Sundergarh: Two children were critically injured in an explosion after a vehicle of Forest department carrying crackers caught fire in Deokarana village under Biramitrapur police limits in Sundergarh district today.
The children were rushed to the Rourkela government hospital by locals following the mishap.
Sources said crackers used to drive away elephants were stashed in the patrolling vehicle of the Forest department and due to some reasons it caught fire leading to the explosion. The two children who were playing near the vehicle sustained grievous injuries following the incident.
"Probably due to heat, crackers kept in the vehicle exploded and injured my son who was playing nearby," said David Kerketa, father of one of the injured.