A tragic accident occurred during preparations for the Ashokastami Rath Bahuda Yatra in Khordha district’s Dhia Panchayat Bhatt Sahi. Four individuals sustained injuries while crafting fireworks for the evening’s festivities.
The injured—Arjun Pradhan (50), Balunkeshwar Majhi (30), Abhimanyu Swain (48), and Pratap Kumar Barik (27)—were preparing traditional fireworks when an unexpected explosion caused injuries to their limbs and other parts of their bodies. They were initially treated in Khordha DHH and later transferred to Bhubaneswar for advanced medical care.
Following the incident, Nirakarpur Police arrived at the scene and halted further firework preparations.
The Bahuda Yatra, a long-standing tradition, features fireworks displays from four local groups. However, due to recurring accidents in recent years, the scale of these displays has been reduced.
