Saintala: At least three persons were injured, two of them critically, in a blast at the Badmal Ordnance Factory under Saintala block in Bolangir district, Friday. The two critically injured workers were identified as Junior Works Manager Saroj Panda and DBW employee Goutam Mahananda.
Another DBW employee sustained minor injuries. The three were rescued and rushed to the hospital on the factory premises. Later, Saroj and Goutam were shifted to the burn unit of Ispat General Hospital (IGH) in Rourkela after the administration of primary treatment. The other injured employee was discharged after primary treatment. The incident occurred when the three employees were engaged in mixing chemicals for the preparation of explosives at Unit-3 of the ordnance factory at 9.45 am, Friday, a press release issued by the factory authorities said. The factory authorities have formed a board and directed an investigation into the explosion.