2 killed, 3 injured in firecracker unit blast in Bhadrak
Balasore: Two persons died and three others sustained injuries after a fire broke out at a firecracker manufacturing unit near Haladidiha village on Chandbali road under Puruna Bazar police station limits in Bhadrak district on Tuesday.The deceased were identified as S K Mushrad (12) and Rato Bibi (40), both residents of Haladidiha village. The injured include Anita Khatun (20), Sultana (45) and Rasmita Jena (24), all residents of Bhadrak town.According to reports, a loud explosion took place during the manufacturing of fireworks, reducing the structure to rubble. The fire spread rapidly across the premises.Jamaluddin Khan, a local resident, said, “I heard a loud explosion and initially thought it was an LPG cylinder blast. But when I came out of my house, I saw the firecracker unit engulfed in flames.” He added that workers at the site suffered severe burns and their screams horrified bystanders. Local residents rushed to the scene and carried the victims — wrapped in cloth and banana leaves — to the Bhadrak district headquarters hospital. As their condition worsened, the victims were referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. But Mushrad and Bibi succumbed to their injuries while being shifted to Cuttack. The remaining injured individuals are reported to be in stable condition but remain under medical observation.Firefighting teams arrived at the scene and tried to douse the flames for hours as highly flammable materials intensified the blaze.Although the warehouse had a licence for firecracker sales, authorities suspect illegal manufacturing or unauthorised storage, which may have caused the explosion.Arup Abhisek Behera, additional SP of Bhadrak, said, “A case has been registered in this connection and we have launched a thorough investigation. Forensic teams are examining the site to determine the exact cause of the blast.”
