Puri, Odisha – A tragic accident marred the joyous Chandan Yatra festival in Puri when a pile of fireworks accidentally exploded, resulting in the deaths of three people, including a minor. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, also left more than 20 individuals injured, with several in critical condition.
Explosion During Chandan Yatra
The explosion took place during the annual water sports festival marking the end of the 21-day Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra. Hundreds of devotees had gathered on the banks of the Narendra Pushkarini reservoir to participate in the celebrations. The accident happened when a spark from lit firecrackers ignited a nearby pile, causing a devastating chain reaction.
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Immediate Aftermath and Rescue Operations
As the pile of fireworks went off, panic ensued among the crowd. Many devotees standing close to the explosion sustained severe injuries, and some jumped into the reservoir to escape the fiery blasts. Rescue teams quickly arrived at the scene, and the injured were transported to SCB Hospital in Cuttack for treatment.
Horrifying incident, At Least 15 Injured In Cracker Explosion During Chandan Yatra In Puri.
— Utkal Sena (@theutkalsena) May 29, 2024
ହେ ପ୍ରଭୁ, କୋଉଠି ଭୁଲ୍ ହେଲା 🙏😭 pic.twitter.com/VipTRNnbG6
#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
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
ପୁରୀରେ ଚନ୍ଦନ ଯାତ୍ରା ସମୟରେ ବାଣ ବିସ୍ଫୋରଣ ଘଟି କିଛି ଲୋକଙ୍କ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ହୋଇଥିବା ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଖୁବ୍ ଦୁଃଖିତ । ମୃତକଙ୍କ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ସମସ୍ତ ଆହତଙ୍କ ଆଶୁ ଆରୋଗ୍ୟ କାମନା କରୁଛି ।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) May 30, 2024
पुरी, ओडिशा में चंदन यात्रा के दौरान पटाखों में विस्फोट के कारण आग लगने से कई लोगों की…
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
Government Response
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed the local administration to ensure that all injured individuals receive proper medical care. He announced that the cost of their treatment would be covered by the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Patnaik expressed his sorrow over the incident and extended his wishes for the swift recovery of the injured.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also expressed his condolences and wished a speedy recovery for those affected.
Statements from Authorities
Puri Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra stated, “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.“
The Chandan Yatra Festival
The Chandan Yatra, or Chandan Jatra, is a revered festival that begins on Akshaya Tritiya and lasts for 21 days. During this period, representative idols of Lord Jagannath, Laskhmi, Saraswati, Rama Krishna, and the Panch Mahadevas are taken out for ceremonial rides across the Narendra Pushkarini. The deities are traditionally smeared with sandalwood paste and bathed in perfumed water, symbolizing purity and divine blessings.
Conclusion
The explosion during the Chandan Yatra festival has cast a pall over the festive atmosphere in Puri. As the community grieves the loss of life and prays for the recovery of the injured, authorities are investigating the incident to prevent such tragedies in the future. The state government’s commitment to bearing the medical expenses provides some solace to the affected families during this difficult time.
