Two killed, 3 seriously injured in blast at illegal firecracker unit in Odisha

At least two people died and three others were seriously injured on Sunday in an explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Odisha’s Boudh district, police said.

The powerful explosion occurred at highway-side Jiakata-Chhatrapur village in the Puruna Cuttack area, ripping apart the concrete building where the fire crackers manufactured without a mandatory license were stored.

Advertisement

The impact of the blast was so severe that the structure, where the firecrackers were being made, was blown up and was extensively damaged. Besides, the houses in the vicinity of the mishap site were also damaged. The deafening sound from the blast site triggered panic in the village, with locals initially believing that it was a bomb blast.

The two bodies were severely burnt and are difficult to recognise, police said, adding that the exact cause of the incident would be ascertained after the investigation.

An inquiry into the incident was launched, and police personnel, fire brigade, and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) were stationed at the site. Forensic experts are on the job to gather legal evidence at the mishap spot. The team carried out the operation to rescue the victims trapped under the debris. Three severely injured people were later rescued from the rubble, police said.