3 die in cracker blast at Puri Chandan Yatra

Bhubaneswar: At least three persons, including a minor, died and 33 others were injured after a stockpile of firecrackers exploded during Lord Jagannath’s Chandan Yatra festival in Puri, police said on Thursday.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered an administrative-level inquiry into the firecracker explosion that occurred on Wednesday night and announced ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the inquiry will be conducted by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department’s Additional Chief Secretary, who is also the Special Relief Commissioner.

‘’One boy succumbed to his injuries at SCB Medical College in Cuttack and two others died while undergoing treatment in private hospitals in Bhubaneswar,’’ a senior officer said. Hundreds of people had gathered on the banks of Narendra Pushkarinee, a water body, to witness the rituals of Lord Jagannath’s Chandan Yatra and some devotees were celebrating the festival by bursting firecrackers. Suddenly, a splinter from the burning crackers struck the stockpile, leading to the explosion, Puri SP Pinak Mishra said.

The Chief Minister visited a private hospital here to meet the injured persons on Thursday morning. He talked to doctors of the health facility and advised them to provide the best treatment to the injured persons who are undergoing treatment there. Later, the Chief Minister wished speedy recovery of the injured and met their family members.

State Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena, Khurda Collector Chanchal Rana and Health Secretary Shalini Pandit visited various hospitals on Wednesday night to supervise the treatment of the injured people.

‘’Of 36 patients admitted to various hospitals, six have been discharged after treatment, three declared dead and 27 under treatment,’’ Jena said on X.

The injured persons were admitted to nine private and government hospitals in Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the Health Secretary said.

“Several teams of doctors are trying their best to save the lives of the injured people. As the first 48-hour period is critical for such cases, we are monitoring their health condition,” Pandit told reporters. She said the State government is bearing the treatment cost of all those injured in the accident.

“We have received eight patients from Puri. Of them, one was brought dead, two others had 100 per cent burn injuries and another was admitted with 65 per cent burn injuries. They are under treatment at the plastic surgery department. The four other patients have minor burn injuries and are admitted to the general surgery ward,” SCB Medical College and Hospital Superintendent Sudhansu Sekhar Mishra said.

The Puri SP said, ‘’We have registered a suo motu criminal case and an investigation is underway. We have collected scientific and physical evidence from the spot.’’ During Lord Jagannath’s Chandan Yatra festival, the firecrackers were burst without permission from the authorities, he said.

‘’Whoever is found guilty, legal action will be taken against him,’’ the Puri SP said. Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said that the person, who was bursting the firecrackers at the festival, was also seriously injured and undergoing treatment in the ICU

of a hospital.