Bhubaneswar: The death toll in Puri cracker explosion incident climbed to six after two more succumbed to their burn injuries during treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
The two deaths were confirmed by the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC).
Soumya Ranjan Sahoo (13) and four-year-old Samrudhi Sahoo succumbed to injuries during treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.
Earlier four persons including a minor were killed in the tragic incident. The two-year-old minor girl had died on the day of the accident while two others succumbed to injuries in the next day while undergoing treatment.
Currently, 24 injured persons, including 12 critically, are undergoing treatment in different hospitals in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Puri.
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 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.
