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An explosion at an illegal firecracker godown in Boudh killed two people, injured six, and led to a major police operation and NH-57 blockade by villagers.
Representative Image. (AI Generated)
At least two people died and six others were injured in an explosion at an illegal firecracker store room in Odisha’s Boudh district on Sunday, police said.
The incident took place around noon at a firecracker godown at Jiakata-Chhatrapur under Purunakatak police limits in Harabhanga block of the district.
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The blast was so powerful that the store room was reduced to rubble. The injured were rushed to the Purunakatak Community Health Centre with the help of locals.
As per reports, the deceased have been identified as Lakshmidhar Behera and Bhagaban Behera. Lakshmidhar died on the spot, while Bhagaban succumbed to injuries at the hospital. More than six people have sustained critical injuries and have been shifted to Burla Hospital for treatment.
Fire services, along with bomb squads, sniffer dogs, ODRAF teams, and police forces, rushed to the spot and have sealed off the entire area. Rescue operations are underway, and debris is being cleared to search for survivors.
Boudh SP Rahul Goel informed that damage assessment is in progress. Meanwhile, angry villagers staged a blockade on NH-57, demanding compensation for losses. Police have also launched an investigation into the illegal firecracker trade.
“Huge quantities of illegal explosive substances were stored. The hunt for suspects is going on, and further three godowns of firecrackers in the district have been seized and sealed in a major operation,” PTI quoted the SP as saying.
A probe is underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion and whether any safety violations were involved, police said. The impact of the explosion was felt nearly a kilometre away, shattering glass panes of several shops in Purunakatak market, said Bhimsen Sethi, a local man.
Odisha (Orissa), India, India
September 21, 2025, 22:54 IST
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