Rayagada: A powerful firecracker explosion during a ritual ahead of Makar Sankranti left five people critically injured at Yedusahi in Odisha’s Rayagada district early on Wednesday.
The blast shook nearby houses, creating panic in the locality and left the victims with severe burn injuries. The 5 victims, 2 of whom are in extremely critical conditions, are battling for their lives at a hospital in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
The accident occurred when the Telugu community was celebrating Bhogi Podi ahead of Makar Sankranti and some people threw a large quantity of firecrackers into the fire. Police are probing the case.
Eyewitnesses said dumping a lot of crackers caused the high intensity blast, which was so strong that it damaged nearby structures and forced residents to rush outside in fear. The sudden blast cracked doors and windows of houses, shattered the glass of a packed auto rickshaw, scattered materials across the site and created panic in the neighbourhood.
Local residents rescued the injured before emergency services including fire and police personnel arrived at the scene. The victims were immediately rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital at Rayagada for emergency treatment. The critical patients are now undergoing treatment at a hospital in Vishakhapatnam with specialised medical facilities for advanced care.
The police have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation into the cause of the blast. Preliminary reports suggest that the firecrackers may have been illegally manufactured or stored in unsafe conditions, a recurring issue in Odisha during festival seasons.
