Puri, June 2: The death toll in the firecracker explosion in Odisha’s Puri district climbed to 11 after two more people succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment, the Health and Family Welfare Department informed today.
Meanwhile, 19 others are currently undergoing treatment at several hospitals in the state.
Notably, the fire mishap occurred during the Chandan Yatra festival at Narendra pond near Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri.
The incident occurred as a splinter from fireworks hit a heap of firecrackers on the Devi Ghat on Wednesday (May 29) where the longest annual festival of Jagannath Temple of Puri was being observed.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had ordered an inquiry into the mishap and declared an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh from the Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF) to the families of the deceased.
Puri Police have also confirmed the registration of a criminal case and are currently conducting an investigation. Satyabrata Sahu, an officer at the additional chief secretary level in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, who also serves as the SRC, has commenced a probe into the incident.
