Boudh, Sept 21: In a tragic incident, at least one person was killed and several others sustained critical injuries in a powerful explosion that rocked firecrackers go-down in Jiakata-Chhatrapur village in Puruna Cuttack area of Odisha’s Boudh district on Sunday.
The deceased has been identified as Laxmidhar Behera and the explosion was so powerful that his body was shattered into pieces.
As per reports, the blast took place at around 11 am and caused a residential building to collapse.
Sources said that the building was reportedly being used as an illegal firecracker warehouse, where firecrackers were both stored and manufactured.
Nearby shops and houses were heavily damaged in the explosion, and villagers fled in panic.
Upon getting the information, emergency teams, including police and firefighters, quickly arrived at the scene and carried out rescue operations.
The police are investigating the cause of the explosion, while rescue efforts are underway to ensure the safety of residents and free anyone trapped under the debris.