Blast in slum kills one, injures 5 in Odisha

A woman was killed and five others injured, one of them critically, when a blast rocked a slum in Madhusudanpalli area here Monday.

The explosion occurred at a dwelling when some explosive materials, believed to have been stored for making firecrackers, caught fire, police said.

All the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital where a woman was declared dead, said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Pradyumna Mishra.

Another woman was later shifted to VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla where her condition was stated to be critical, he said.

The impact of the explosion was such that around 15 dwellings in the slum were severely damaged and household goods destroyed, police said.

The asbestos roofs of several dwellings were blown away and walls collapsed, they said adding fire brigade personnel had rushed to the site to conduct rescue operation.

The dwelling in which the explosion took place belongs to one Jawaharlal Srivastav. The deceased was identified as Rekha (30), Srivastav's younger brother's wife, police said.

The DSP, who visited the spot, said the exact reason of the explosion is yet to be ascertained, while smell of burnt chemicals was emanating from the site.

Appropriate action will be taken after the preliminary investigation, he said.

An expert of the police team said the explosion was suspected to have been triggered by gunpowder stored in the house to make crackers, but the exact reason would be known after a thorough probe.