Explosion in Firecracker Godown Kills One, Injures 10 in Boudh

Boudh: A powerful explosion at a firecracker godown in Jiakata village under Purunakatak police limits of Odisha’s Boudh district on Sunday left one person dead and 10 others critically injured.

According to reports, a trader from Purunakatak had stocked large quantities of firecrackers in a rented house at Jiakata. Around 11 am, the crackers suddenly caught fire and exploded. The blast was so intense that it flattened nearby houses and damaged property in the locality.

The injured were rescued with the help of locals and shifted to the Purunakatak Community Health Centre. The impact was felt up to a kilometre away, shattering glass panes in several shops at Purunakatak market.

On receiving information, fire services personnel from Harabhanga rushed to the site, doused the flames, and launched rescue operations. Meanwhile, Purunakatak police have begun an investigation to ascertain the cause of the blast and check for possible safety violations.

A detailed probe is currently underway.