Puri: More than 30 persons were injured, many of them critically, in a firecracker explosion during Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings at Narendra Pond Wednesday night. Sources said hundreds of people had congregated near the pond to witness the deities’ water sports when the mishap occurred. “Huge quantities of firecrackers were kept near the pond. Some youths were bursting those one after the other. Suddenly, an explosion took place. Many people, including a few children, suffered severe burns in the explosion,” they said. While 10 of the injured are being treated at the district headquarters hospital (DHH) here, nearly 20 have been shifted to facilities like SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, they pointed out.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed Chief Secretary PK Jena and the district administration to ensure proper treatment of the injured. “All expenses for the treatment of the injured will be met from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. I pray Lord Jagannath for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Patnaik said.