As many as nine minor children received burn injuries in separate incidents of cracker explosions that occurred at three different places in Baleswar district on Sunday morning.
All the explosions occurred as children ignited crackers without due care in absence of their parents.
While two mishaps occurred under the Basta police station, the third one happened in a village under the Nilgiri police limits. Seven children between 10 and 12 years’ age were hurt at Sanadhiadi village in Kuradiha GP under Baleswar Sadar block as they gathered half-burst crackers and ignited them which led to an explosion.
“All of them have been shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital. While 5 of them have been discharged, two are still under treatment,” said Rupsa IIC Ashok Nayak.
In another incident, Sapan Das (11) of Raisuan village under the Basta PS received grave injuries in his palm and fingers as a powerful cracker went off in his hand. He has been shifted to the SCB Medical College Hospital, informed Basta PS IIC Dhaneswar Sahoo.
Similarly, another such incident occurred in Baligohirisahi under the Nilgiri PS. A minor boy received the burn injuries and was admitted to a hospital.
It may be noted that as many as 11 people died in an explosion occurred in an cracker-making unit in Bahabalpur village on Wednesday.
The deceased include three sons and two grandchildren of the key accused, Golak Pradhan (64).
The district administration disbursed ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of the each deceased as per the announcement by the Chief Minister and Rs 10,000 from the Red Cross on Saturday.