Man loses palms in cracker unit explosion at Rayagada

Rayagada: A man reportedly lost his palms in an explosion at a cracker manufacturing unit in Raniguda of Rayagada district on Thursday.

The victim, identified as Santosh Behera, was admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. The mishap occurred when Behera was making crackers.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the massive explosion at a cracker unit in Bahalpur of Balasore district rose to nine following the death of two more persons.

The victims, Ramapada Maiti and Nimai Pradhan, succumbed to burn injuries while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. The condition of five others, who are undergoing treatment at the hospital, is stated to be critical condition.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those who sustained critical injuries in the mishap.

A six-year-old girl was killed while four others lost their eye sight in a similar explosion at a cracker making unit in Bilipada near Pipili in Puri district also on Wednesday.