3 Dead, Over 30 Injured As Cracker Pile Explodes During Chandan Yatra in Puri

Puri: At least three persons died and more than 30 were seriously injured when a pile of fireworks accidentally caught fire and exploded during the ‘Chapa Khela’ of Lord Jagannath at Narendra pond as part of the Chandan Yatra in Puri on Wednesday night.

As per reports, the deceased included a minor boy, who breathed his last at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and the other two persons died at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.

The injured were initially admitted to Puri District Headquarters Hospital in a critical condition. They were later shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and other hospitals in Bhubaneswar.

According sources, sparks from exploding crackers fell on a pile of fireworks stocked at the Devi ghat bank of the pond leading to a massive explosion. The devotees who had gathered at the spot to watch the Chandan Yatra ritual were seriously injured in the explosion. Several of them jumped into the water to save their lives.

Locals rescued the injured and rushed them to the Puri districrtf headquarters hospital. Later they were shifted to Cuttack and Bhubaneswar as the hospital lacks a proper burn unit. The utmost priority is to provide treatment to the injured, said Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain.