Odisha: Toll In Puri’s Chandan Yatra Blast Rises To Six; 26 More Under Treatment

Puri: Three more persons succumbed to burns, taking the toll in firecrackers explosion during Chandan Yatra festival of Lord Jagannath in Odisha’s Puri, to six, the Health Department informed on Friday.

While the department had informed about one death in the morning, two more reportedly succumbed in the afternoon. “Two persons died due to unfortunate fire tragedy in Puri. The total death toll raised to 6 (six). The Collector, Puri, has already taken steps for payment of ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of the 4 deceased persons. Presently, 26 patients are under treatment in different hospitals,” the latest update said.

The explosion in a firecracker stockpile during the religious event in Puri on Wednesday had earlier claimed three lives, which included two children, and left nearly 30 injured. One of the victims was a two-year-old boy. The injured were initially admitted to Puri district headquarters hospital, but later shifted to the SCB Medical College in Cuttack and hospitals in Bhubaneswar for specialised treatment as their condition worsened.

Doctors attending to the injured, including several minors, said some of them have sustained over 90% burns.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered a high-level inquiry led by special relief commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu into the incident which occurred during fireworks display near Narendra tank when hundreds of devotees had gathered to witness the Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings.

Naveen also visited SUM Ultimate Hospital in the state capital to meet the injured. He interacted with their family members and held discussions with the doctors.