3 of family, including 2 women and 4-year-old girl, die after ‘cracker’ blast in Cuttack house

CUTTACK: Three members of a family, including two women and a four-year-old girl, died after suffering critical burn injuries in a powerful explosion at their house in Mahajanpur under Jagatpur police limits on Thursday evening. According to police, the blast occurred around 6.15 pm when Sudhansubala Nayak (34) and her mother-in-law Pravati Nayak (60) were allegedly handling firecracker materials inside the house. Sudhansubala’s minor daughter was present in the same room at the time of the explosion. The sudden blast triggered a massive fire, causing the asbestos roof to collapse and trapping the three inside. They sustained severe burn injuries. Neighbours rushed to the spot after hearing the explosion and alerted fire services and police. The injured were initially taken to a nearby hospital and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, where they succumbed during treatment, police said. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and to verify whether firecrackers were being manufactured or stored illegally at the residence.