Jagatsinghpur: In a tragic incident, two persons were killed and three others seriously injured in an explosion at a firecracker factory at Ichhapur village in Balikuda block of Jagatsinghpur district on Tuesday.
The victims belong to Ichhapur and adjoining areas. One of the deceased has been identified as Dilu Mohanty, a resident of the same village.
The identity of another deceased has not yet been ascertained.
Similarly, three critically injured have been admitted to Jagatsinghpur district headquarters hospital, while two of them have been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. The two are Sushant Prusty and Dinabandhu Das of Gopalpur. Their condition is stated to be critical.
The incident took place around 1 pm while firecrackers were being manufactured in the unit. The intensity of the blast was so high that the entire factory was reduced to ashes.
Bricks and cement walls of the factory have collapsed in the explosion. A house near the firecracker factory and a pile of paddy were also gutted in the fire.
The fire services personnel immediate rushed to the spot and doused the flame. The cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained.
The firecracker factory is said to be running with a valid licence. However, the administration has not clarified it.
