7 injured as crackers explode

Five children were severely injured in a firecracker explosion at Udupur village under Balikuda police limits on Sunday. The injured have been identified as Arat Mallick, Litu Mallick, Bipin Mallick, Manasa Mallick and three-year-old girl Mamali.

They were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, in a critical condition.

In another incident, Debasish Nayak, student of Class VII of Janatakothi High School under Balikuda police limits and  school headmaster Sudhansu Kumar Sahu were injured when a cracker in Nayak’s pocket exploded.

Following the incident, villagers have decided not to observe Diwali this year and prayed for the recovery of those injured.

IIC of Balikuda police station Sitikant Kanunogo said: “No one has yet reported about the firecracker explosion at Udupur, but we have taken all steps to check illegal firecracker sale  in this area.” Many people manufacture firecrackers illegally and carry out the business without requisite precautions and mandatory licence. Minor children and women-folk are employed in these works.

Jajpur: Two persons, including an auto driver, sustained grievous injuries following an explosion of firecrackers inside the vehicle at Sankhanali village under Jajpur Town police limits on Sunday night.

Sources said the crackers that were being carried inside the auto by a local dealer exploded near Rahul High School. The dealer was on his  way to the headquarters town from Jahanpur village.

The injured have been identified as the dealer Prakash Acharya (26) and auto driver  Susanta Kumar Jena (30). They were admitted to district headquarters hospital and later shifted to SCB Medical, Cuttack, after their condition deteriorated.  Such was the intensity of the explosion that the auto was reduced to ashes. Receiving information, fire fighters rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.