Bhubaneswar: The death toll in the unfortunate Puri cracker mishap rose to eight with the death of one more person during treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.
It was informed by the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC). Presently, 22 patients are undergoing treatment in different Hospitals, SRC stated.
The Puri Collector has been asked to pay Rs 4 lakh as ex-gratia assistance to the next of kin of each deceased person, the SRC informed.
A total of 30 people sustained burn injuries after a pile of crackers exploded during Chapa Khela (water sporting) of the trinity as a part of Chandan Yatra in Narendra Puskarini on May 29.
Hundreds of people had gathered on the banks of the water body to catch a glimpse of the ritual when the accident happened.
A group of devotees were celebrating the festival with crackers, when the explosion occurred after a splinter from the burning crackers struck the heap.
Some of the devotees jumped into the pond to save their lives.
The injured people were admitted to Puri district headquarters hospital initially and later the critically injured were shifted to Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the incident and directed officials concerned to ensure proper treatment of the injured.
He said the cost of the treatment would be borne by the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
