Odisha: Pile Of Fireworks Goes Off During Puri Chandan Yatra By Accident, Several Injured — Video

Several people were injured in a firecracker explosion during Lord Jagannath's Chandan Yatra festival in Puri. CM Naveen Patnaik has said that the cost of their treatment will be borne by the state.

A screengrab from the video of the fireworks accident. ( Image Source :X@theutkalsena )

More than 20 people were injured in when a pile of firecrackers went off during Lord Jagannath's Chandan Yatra in Puri, Odisha, on Wednesday. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed the local administration to ensure proper treatment of the injured. The CM said the cost of the treatment will be borne from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Some of the injured are in critical condition, reported news agency ANI. 

The fireworks were set off to mark the end of the 21-Day Chandan Yatra festival in Puri.

#WATCH | Odisha: Several injured after firecrackers exploded during Lord Jagannath's Chandan Yatra festival in Puri. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/dV7mXHZGga

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2024

Police said that hundreds of people gathered on the banks of the Narendra Pushkarini reservoir to take part in the annual water sports festival of the holy trinity of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra. During the celebration, a group of devotees lit up firecrackers. Suddenly, a spark fell on a pile of firecrackers, causing a chain reaction. A video of the incident is doing the rounds now. However, ABP Live couldn't independently verify the clip.

Horrifying incident, At Least 15 Injured In Cracker Explosion During Chandan Yatra In Puri.
ହେ ପ୍ରଭୁ, କୋଉଠି ଭୁଲ୍ ହେଲା 🙏😭 pic.twitter.com/VipTRNnbG6

— Utkal Sena (@theutkalsena) May 29, 2024

Police further said that people who were standing in close proximity to the pile of the firecrackers sustained the worst injuries. As soon as the pile began lighting up, people panicked. Some of them even jumped into the reservoir to save themselves.

Puri SP Pinak Mishra said: "Several people were injured in a fire incident while bursting firecrackers. A rescue team reached the spot and all the injured were sent to SCB Hospital, Cuttack. Our priority is to provide treatment to the injured and then we will look into the other matters."

CM Naveen Patnaik in an X post said, "Sorry to hear about the accident near the Puri Narendra Pushkarini. I have directed the chief administrative secretary and the district administration to ensure proper treatment of the injured and monitor the system. All the medical expenses of the injured will be borne from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Wishing everyone good health in the name of the Lord."

ପୁରୀ ଚନ୍ଦନ ଯାତ୍ରା ସମୟରେ ନରେନ୍ଦ୍ର ପୁଷ୍କରିଣୀ ଦେବୀଘାଟରେ ଘଟିଥିବା ଅଭାବନୀୟ ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣାରେ ଅନେକ ଆହତ ହୋଇଥିବା ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦରୁ ଚିକିତ୍ସାଧିନ ଥିବା ଲୋକମାନେ ଶୀଘ୍ର ସୁସ୍ଥ ହୋଇ ଘରକୁ ଫେରନ୍ତୁ, ଏହା ହିଁ କାମନା ।🙏

— Dharmendra Pradhan (मोदी का परिवार) (@dpradhanbjp) May 29, 2024

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan wished speedy recovery of the injured. "I am saddened to hear the news of the people sustaining injuries in the accident that took place at the Narendra Pushkarini Devighat during the Puri Chandan Yatra. I wish a speedy recovery to those under treatment so that they may return home quickly with the blessings of the Lord."

ପୁରୀ ନରେନ୍ଦ୍ର ପୁଷ୍କରିଣୀ ନିକଟରେ ଘଟିଥିବା ଅଘଟଣ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଆହତମାନଙ୍କ ଉତ୍ତମ ଚିକିତ୍ସା ସୁନିଶ୍ଚିତ କରିବା ସହ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାର ତଦାରଖ ପାଇଁ ମୁଖ୍ୟ ଶାସନ ସଚିବ ଓ ଜିଲ୍ଲା ପ୍ରଶାସନକୁ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ ଦେଇଛି। ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ରିଲିଫ୍ ପାଣ୍ଠିରୁ ଆହତମାନଙ୍କ ସମସ୍ତ ଚିକିତ୍ସା ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚ ବହନ କରାଯିବ। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ…

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) May 29, 2024

The Chandan Yatra, or Chandan Jatra, begins on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya and lasts for 21 days. During this period, the representative idols of Lord Jagannath, Laskhmi, Saraswati, Rama Krishna, and the Panch Mahadevas are taken out for pleasure rides across the Narendra Pushkarini. The deities are smeared with sandalwood paste and then bathed in perfumed water.