Cuttack Jagatpur blast: Mother and daughter die of burn injuries; child battles for life

Two persons succumbed to their injuries on Friday, a day after a powerful explosion rocked a house in the Jagatpur area of Cuttack district, raising fresh concerns over illegal firecracker manufacturing in residential localities.

The deceased have been identified as a mother and her daughter, who had sustained critical burn injuries in Thursday’s blast at Mahajanpur under the Jagatpur area. They were undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Odisha's Cuttack, where doctors declared them dead.

Another child injured in the incident remains in critical condition and is undergoing intensive medical care, hospital sources said.

Explosion Inside House

The explosion occurred inside a residential house on Thursday. According to preliminary reports, firecrackers were allegedly being assembled illegally on the premises when the blast took place.

Three members of the family, the wife, daughter-in-law and granddaughter of the house owner, sustained severe burn injuries and were rushed to SCBMCH for treatment. Of them, two persons later succumbed.

Illegal Storage Alleged

Initial investigations suggest that Govinda Nayak, a resident of the village, had allegedly stored firecrackers at his residence. The explosion reportedly occurred while additional firecrackers were being assembled inside the house.

The impact of the blast was intense, gutting two rooms of the house in the ensuing fire. The force of the explosion caused significant structural damage and triggered panic among residents of the locality.

Probe Underway

Authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the alleged illegal storage and assembly of firecrackers in the residential building.

Also Read: Firecracker blast in Cuttack leaves three critical; Probe underway

The tragedy has once again spotlighted the dangers of illegal firecracker storage and manufacturing in residential areas across Odisha, despite repeated accidents and enforcement measures in similar cases.

Further investigation is underway.