Bhubaneswar, India: The death toll from a tragic explosion during a religious festival in the Indian state of Odisha has risen to nine, officials confirmed on Saturday. The incident occurred during Lord Jagannath’s ‘Chandan Yatra’, a sacred ritual, on the evening of May 29. A total of 30 people were injured in the explosion.
According to reports from the Health & Family Welfare Department, three of the injured individuals succumbed to their injuries late Friday night. Currently, 21 patients are receiving medical treatment in various hospitals in Puri, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack.
In response to the tragedy, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered an investigation into the explosion. He also announced that a compensation of Rs 4 lakh will be provided to the families of each deceased victim. The Puri collector is facilitating the distribution of the compensation, as confirmed by officials.
Additionally, Satyabrata Sahu, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, has initiated a probe into the incident as the Special Relief Commissioner. Meanwhile, Puri Police has launched a criminal investigation into the explosion.
The explosion of a stockpile of firecrackers has deeply impacted the community and raised concerns about safety measures during religious events. This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to strict guidelines to prevent such tragedies in the future.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are working diligently to ensure justice for the victims and to prevent similar incidents from occurring. Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives and with those who are currently hospitalized due to the explosion.