DEATH TOLL IN CRACKER EXPLOSION DURING CHANDAN YATRA CLIMBS TO 6

Bhubaneswar (31/05/2024): The death toll in the cracker explosion during Chandan Yatra in Puri increased to six after two more persons succumbed to their injuries on Friday. Several devotees had sustained burn injuries after crackers exploded during ‘Chapa Khela' of the Trinity in Narendra pond as part of Chandan Yatra in Puri on May 29, 2024. Sparkles from exploded crackers fell on a pile of crackers on the Devi ghat side of the pond.

Hundreds of devotees gathered there to watch the water sports in the holy pond jumped into the pond to save their lives. The office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) today informed that the Puri Collector has taken steps for payment of Rs 4 lakh each towards ex-gratia assistance to the next of kin of the deceased. At present, 24 patients are undergoing treatment in different hospitals of Odisha.