On Wednesday evening in Puri, Odisha, tragedy struck during the celebration of the ‘Chapa Khela’ ritual of Lord Jagannath and his siblings as part of the Chandan Yatra. A devastating explosion occurred when crackers, intended for a fireworks display, detonated unexpectedly. As a result, over two dozen devotees suffered burn injuries, with at least 15 of them being severely wounded. Tragically, one child lost their life in the incident.
According to Puri SP Pinak Mishra, the explosion was triggered when a splinter from the crackers landed on the pile, setting off a powerful blast. The explosion caused chaos, with sparks igniting nearby devotees who had gathered to witness the celebration at the holy pond.
The injured were swiftly transported to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, with critical cases given priority. Initially, locals rushed the wounded to the district headquarters hospital for urgent medical attention. Shockingly, it was reported that there were no fire safety measures in place at the site, leaving many to question the safety protocols surrounding such events.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent safety measures, especially during public gatherings and religious festivities, to prevent such tragic accidents from occurring in the future.
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