Puri: Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu, appointed by the Odisha government to probe into the Puri firecracker accident, Friday recorded statements of parents of the burn victims, eyewitnesses, police, and health department officials.
As many as 16 people including some minors have succumbed to the burn injuries while 14 others are still undergoing treatment, in the fire mishap that took place on the concluding day of 21 day Chandan Yatra known as “Bhaunri Yatra”,in Puri on May 29 last.
The devotees and residents who had congregated at the Narendra Tank to witness the firework display, were injured when one cracker missed the direction and landed on the pile of firecrackers causing a huge explosion in the area.
The SRC has started the probe to ascertain the situation leading to the tragic accident and prevention of the same in the future.
This was the second sitting of the SRC as he held the first meeting June 5 last.
Almost all alleged that police failed to prevent unauthorized firecracker displays and there was no information to the devotees present in the area to take precautions.
No ambulance was available to take the injured persons to the hospital and no treatment facility for burn injury patients was available at the Jagannath Medical College Hospital.
About thirty persons including the guardian and family members of the victims get their statements recorded.
The SRC also visited the accident site and gathered information about the presence of devotees in the area at the time of the accident.
Thirty-two persons including four small children sustained burn injuries as there was an explosion in the firecracker stockpile while fireworks were on display.
The Administration managed to shift all the injured to super specialty hospitals having burn treatment facilities in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
So far sixteen patients have died while many returned to Puri after treatment.
Sources said the Puri police have arrested four persons in connection with the accident and seized huge quantities of explosive materials stored for preparation of crackers.
UNI
