A significant explosion occurred at an illegal firecracker storage facility in the Boudh district of Odisha on Sunday, resulting in one fatality and injuring eight others, according to local police reports. The incident transpired around noon at a godown situated in Jiakata-Chhatrapur, under the jurisdiction of the Purunakatak police station in Harabhanga block.
The blast’s impact was reportedly so intense that the structure was reduced to rubble. Those injured were promptly transported to the Purunakatak Community Health Centre with assistance from local residents. The deceased has been identified as 40-year-old Laxmindra Behera from Chhatrapur village.
Boudh Superintendent of Police, Rahul Goel, stated that an extensive rescue operation was initiated, involving local police, fire service personnel, the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), a bomb squad, a scientific team, and a dog squad. This was prompted by concerns that additional victims might be trapped beneath the debris.
Goel also mentioned that the facility had huge quantities of illegal explosive materials stored on the premises. In response to the incident, authorities sealed three additional firecracker storage units in the area as part of ongoing investigations.
A thorough inquiry is currently underway to ascertain the explosion’s cause and whether safety regulations were violated. Local residents expressed concern for their safety, leading to a road blockade, as neighboring homes were also affected by the blast. The shockwave was felt nearly a kilometer away, shattering glass in several shops within the Purunakatak market, as reported by local resident Bhimsen Sethi.
