Jagatsinghpur: Two people were killed and three others were critically injured after a powerful firecracker explosion at a house in Mahila village under Tirtol police station limits in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district on Thursday afternoon.
The deceased have been identified as Manoranjan Swain and his son, Soumya Sahil Swain. The three injured have been identified as Subhalakshmi Swain, Bhagyalakshmi Swain and Rahul Raj Mahanta. The injured were taken to the Jagatsinghpur District Headquarters Hospital for treatment, and their condition was reported to be critical.
According to reports, the explosion occurred at Manoranjan Swain’s house while firecrackers were present there. Police are investigating whether the crackers were being prepared at the house and whether the family had the required permission or licence for such activity. The exact cause of the explosion is yet to be established.
The blast was powerful enough to damage parts of the house. Cracks developed in the walls, while household articles were scattered by the impact. Neighbours rushed to the spot after hearing the explosion and helped rescue those trapped or injured before informing the police.
Police are also examining how the firecrackers came to be stored or prepared inside the residential premises and whether any rules governing their manufacture or storage were violated. Tirtol police have begun an investigation, with officials checking the circumstances surrounding the explosion and the nature of the firecracker-related activity at the house.
Manoranjan Swain was taken to a nearby health facility after the blast, where doctors declared him dead. His son Soumya Sahil Swain later succumbed to his injuries. The three other injured people were shifted to the Jagatsinghpur district hospital, where they remained under treatment in critical condition, according to the latest local reports.
The incident has also brought attention to the safety risks associated with storing or preparing firecrackers inside residential areas. Jagatsinghpur has witnessed firecracker-related accidents in the past, including incidents involving manufacturing and storage facilities. However, in the present case, police are still determining whether the activity at the Mahila house involved licensed manufacturing, storage or another form of firecracker preparation.
As the investigation continues, police are expected to establish what material was present at the house, how the explosion started and whether the required permissions had been obtained. Any action regarding violations will depend on the findings of the investigation.
