Post News Network
Bhanjanagar, Sept 2: Two people including a child were killed and another was rendered critical after firecrackers stored in a godown suddenly went off at Goudiapadhala village under Bhanjanagar police limits in Ganjam district Wednesday morning. The deceased were identified as Jyotshnamayee Swain, a college student, and Sairam Swain (5). A woman, Sashikala Swain, sustained critical injuries in the explosion.
Cracker trader Pradip Swain fled the scene after the incident. Jyotshnamayee and Sahikala are neighbours of Pradip while Sairam was his kin. All three used to frequently visit Pradip’s house.
Jyotshnamayee died on the spot while Sairam was declared brought dead by doctors on reaching a hospital. The intensity of the blast was so severe that four houses on the vicinity collapsed under its impact while tin roofs of four houses ripped off while rubbles were thrown away to a distance. Some youths mustered courage and rushed inside the flames and managed to rescue Sashikala but failed to save the other two.
According to reports, Jyotshnamayee and Sairam had gone for a bath to a tube-well on Pradip’s backyard when the explosion occurred. They suddenly found themselves engulfed in flames while the roof of the house came crashing down on them.
Sashikala, who was cooking, came under the roof of her house after it collapsed under the impact of the explosion. She was first admitted to the local hospital and was later shifted to Berhampur-based MKCG Medical College and Hospital after her condition worsened.
The incident triggered shockwaves in the village with the residents thronging the site and mourning the deaths.
Police sent the bodies for post-mortem and sealed the premises of another godown while fire brigade personnel from Bhanjanagar reached the spot and doused the flames.
The incident occurred as Pradip has built two godowns in the middle of the village and was storing firecrackers inside the warehouses for last several years without obtaining necessary permission. The police and the administration, despite being aware of the matter, had allegedly never acted against him, sources said. Locals have sought stringent action against the guilty.