Puri, Odisha – The death toll from a tragic firecracker explosion in Puri town rose to eight on Saturday, with five individuals succumbing to severe burn injuries, officials reported. The incident occurred on Wednesday when a stockpile of firecrackers near a pond caught fire, resulting in a devastating explosion that left many injured.
According to Puri superintendent of police (SP) Pinak Mishra, the victims who lost their lives on Saturday included two minors, all of whom had suffered extensive burn injuries ranging from 80-100%. Despite efforts to treat the injured in ICU and on ventilators, their conditions deteriorated. Currently, 22 other individuals are receiving medical treatment in various hospitals in Puri, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack.
The explosion occurred during the Chapa Khela festival of the Chandan Yatra, when a group of youths were setting off firecrackers near the Narendra Pond. Tragically, a firecracker split off and ignited the stockpile of firecrackers, causing a sudden blast that resulted in severe injuries to nearby individuals, including children. Some of the injured attempted to seek refuge in the pond, while others succumbed to their injuries soon after the incident.
In response to this tragic event, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has initiated an inquiry into the explosion. He has also announced an ex-gratia amount of ₹4 lakh to be given to the families of each deceased victim. Additionally, two more individuals have passed away from their injuries in hospitals, with several others still in critical condition.
The Revenue and Disaster Management Department’s Additional Chief Secretary, Satyabrata Sahu, has launched a formal investigation into the incident. Furthermore, the Puri Police have opened a criminal case and are actively conducting an ongoing investigation to determine the cause of the explosion and prevent similar tragedies in the future.