During a festival in Odisha, fifteen people suffered burn injuries in a firecracker explosion according to police reports. The incident took place in Puri during Lord Jagannath’s Chandan Jatra festival on Wednesday night. The tragedy occurred in the presence of hundreds who had gathered on the banks of Narendra Pushkarinee, a local waterbody, to witness the rituals.
The explosion was accidentally set off by a group of devotees after a splinter from the burning crackers struck the heap of fireworks. The burning debris from the blast hit those who had gathered, prompting them to jump into the water to avoid harm.
The injured people were admitted in a district hospital, where four were reported to be in a critical condition, a doctor commented.
Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik expressed his grief over the incident and urged officials to see to it that the injured get proper treatment. He also stated that the treatment costs would be covered by the chief minister’s Relief Fund.
