Puri: At least six people were killed and 32 others sustained burn injuries after a pile of fireworks exploded during Lord Jagannath's Chandan Jatra festival in Odisha's Puri, police said on Thursday. 

The incident was reported on Wednesday night on the banks of Narendra Pushkarinee, a waterbody, to witness the rituals. "One boy succumbed to his injuries at SCB Medical College in Cuttack and two others died while undergoing treatment in private hospitals in Bhubaneswar," news agency PTI quoted a policeman as saying. 

Hundreds of devotees had gathered to celebrate the festival. The incident took place when a group of devotees were celebrating the festival with crackers. Suddenly, a splinter from the burning crackers struck the heap, leading to the explosion, police said. 

Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena, Khurda Collector Chanchal Rana and Health Secretary Shalini Pandit visited different hospitals late on Wednesday night to supervise the treatment of the injured people. The injured people were rushed to a hospital. Soon after receiving the information, a rescue team reached the spot. 

Puri SP Pinak Mishra, SP Puri said “Several people were injured in a fire incident while bursting firecrackers. A rescue team reached the spot and all the injured were sent to SCB Hospital, Cuttack. Our priority is to provide treatment to the injured and then we will look into the other matters.” 

CM Patnaik Visits Hospital, Meets Injured People

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the incident and instructed the officials concerned to ensure proper treatment of the injured. CM Patnaik on Thursday morning also visited a private hospital to meet the injured. He said the cost of the treatment would be borne by the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.   

(With PTI inputs)