The joyous occasion of Lord Jagannath’s Chandan Jatra in Odisha’s Puri turned into a tragic event on Wednesday night. An explosion rocked a stockpile of firecrackers, leaving eight people dead and over 30 injured. The death toll continues to rise as two more individuals succumbed to their injuries on Saturday.
Among the injured, 22 individuals are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals across Puri, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack. Some of them remain in critical condition, fighting for their lives.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered an inquiry into the incident and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh for the families of the deceased. The Puri collector has already initiated the process of providing this financial assistance.
Satyabrata Sahu, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, has commenced a probe to investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
Meanwhile, the Puri Police have registered a criminal case and are actively investigating the matter.
As the city mourns the loss of life, authorities are working diligently to provide medical care to the injured and support to the bereaved families.
