Kendrapada: Police on Friday arrested three members of a puja committee in connection with the firecracker mishap at Balia Bazaar in Odisha’s Kendrapara district.
According to sources, eight more persons are being interrogated by the Sadar police in this connection.
More than 40 people sustained burn injuries in the firecracker explosion during the immersion ceremony of Lord Kartikeswar on Wednesday night.
There was a firecracker-bursting competition among different puja pandals at the immersion venue. A spark from a firework fell on a heap of stored firecrackers, which exploded injuring the people.
All the injured were rushed to the district headquarters hospital (DHH) in Kendrapada. Around 33 people injured were initially treated at the DHH and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
At least 10 critically injured were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with 80-90 per cent burns and were under treatment by a special team of doctors.
Also Read: [Watch] Over 40 Injured In Firecracker Mishap In Odisha’s Kendrapada, 10 At SCB’s ICU In Cuttack