Bhubaneswar, 19th Oct: A massive explosion at a cracker unit in Bahabalpur village of Balasore district killed at least seven Persons including a minor and injured about 9 persons on Wednesday. The explosion occured at the house of one Golak Pradhan, where crackers were being made for diwali, caught fire. Preliminary reports revels that,  the fire cracker factory of Pradhan was running illegally. While the explosion occured, Pradhan, his son and four others including two minors were present inside the house. “From preliminary investigation it seems like all the six including a child whose dead bodies were recovered from the spot were killed after an accidental explosion while making crackers. The fire engulfed every one present inside the thatched house,” said District Authorities.

According to sources, fire brigade personnel reached the spot within 15 minutes and rescued them. The victims were then sent to the nearby hospital where they succumbed to burn injuries. However, the exact number of persons inside the house is yet to be ascertained and death toll may rise. Balasore Police SP also said the same thing to Press . He said, “From preliminary investigation it seems like all the six including a child whose dead bodies were recovered from the spot were killed after an accidental explosion while making crackers. The fire engulfed every one present inside the thatched house”.
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Following the incident, CM Naveen Patnaik announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 Lakh each to the kin of the deceased. Moreover, an assistance of Rs 50,000 and free medical treatment was announced for the injured.

In an another such mishap Yesterday at Bilipada near Pipili in Puri district, where a minor girl was killed and four others injured critically in an explosion while they were preparing crackers. The minor girl was identified as Prajnarani Behera. The injured Amit Behera, Sidhant Behera, Tulu Behera and Reshma Behera were primarily admitted at Capital Hospital and latter shifted to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.