Odisha: Father, son die in house blast

Paradip: A father and son were killed and three others, including two women, injured in an explosion at a house in Jagatsinghpur district on Thursday, with police yet to ascertain whether it was caused by firecrackers or cooking gas cylinders.

The incident took place at Chandpur Mahila village within Tirtol police station limits. The deceased have been identified as Manoranjan Swain (50) and his 22-year-old son Soumya Sahil. While Swain died on the spot, his son later succumbed to his injuries at the district headquarters hospital, police said.

The injured were identified as Subhalakshmi Swain, Bhagyalakshmi Swain and Rahul Raj Mahanta. They were initially admitted to Jagatsinghpur District Headquarters Hospital and their condition was stated to be critical.

Two of the critically injured persons were later shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Kataka for further treatment, police said. Mahanta, a schoolteacher from Mayurbhanj district, had gone to Swain’s house for lunch when the explosion took place, police said.

“Two persons died, and three others, including two women, were injured in the incident,” Tirtol Sub-Divisional Police Officer Ajay Kumar Das said. Das said some cooking gas cylinders were also found at the explosion site, making it difficult to ascertain the exact cause of the blast.

A forensic team has been engaged in the investigation, he said. Preliminary findings suggested that Swain had stored a large quantity of firecrackers at his house.Swain supplied firecrackers and music systems for marriage functions in the locality, the SDPO said. Police are investigating whether the firecrackers were being stored or manufactured illegally and are trying to determine the exact cause of the explosion, officials said.

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