Puri: At least three persons, including a minor boy, were killed and over 30 devotees critically injured after an explosion of firecrackers during ‘Chapa Khela’ of the sibling deities in Narendra pond as part of the Chandan Yatra in Odisha’s Puri town.
While the minor boy succumbed to burn injuries during treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, two others reportedly died in private hospitals in Bhubaneswar.
Sources said the devastating explosion took place when the famous Chandan Yatra of the holy trinity of Jagannath Temple was underway in the pond on Wednesday night.
Locals said sparkles from exploded crackers fell on a pile of crackers on the Devi Ghat side of the pond and led to the massive explosion. As a result, the devotees who had gathered at the site to witness the water sports in the holy pond sustained critical burns. Many devotees jumped into the pond in an effort to save their lives. Local residents swung into action and rescued the injured who were sent to different hospitals.
The injured were initially taken to the outdoor department and later shifted to the surgery ward of the Puri District Headquarters Hospital. However, they could not be treated there properly as the hospital lacked burn unit. Most of them were later shifted to different hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack for treatment.
Locals blamed the district administration for the mishap and also alleged delay in rescue operation after the explosion.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed concern over the mishap and said all medical expenses of the injured will be borne from the CM Relief Fund. “I am sorry to hear about the accident at Narendra Puskarini in Puri. The Chief Secretary and the District administration have been instructed to ensure proper injured treatment and monitor smooth operation. All the medical expenses of the injured will be borne from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. My sincere prayers near Mahaprabhu for the speedy recovery of all,” the CM said.
He also ordered a high-level probe into the incident and announced Rs.4 lakh ex-gratia each for the kin of those killed in the incident. Later, he visited a private hospital in Bhubaneswar and met people who sustained burn injuries.
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