Jharsuguda: A person was killed and several were feared injured in a cracker explosion in an illegal firecracker unit under Belpahar police limits here today.

The deceased identified as Sushant Dhurua (25), a resident of Belpahar, was working as a labourer in the cracker factory.

publive-image

The intensity of the explosion was so high that one of the feet of Sushant was found lying around 200 metre away from the cracker manufacturing unit.

publive-image Foot of deceased found around 200 mt away from cracker manufacturing unit

According to reports, the incident took place when the manufacturing of crackers was not in progress. One of the cracker sheds was completely damaged in the powerful explosion.

On getting information about the incident, police, a forensic team and fire tender services reached the spot for rescue operation as several people are suspected to be trapped under the debris.

The preliminary probe suggested that the youth died while he entered into one of the cracker godowns for cleaning work. After he opened the door, suddenly the crackers exploded. As the debris has not been cleared so far, one person is believed to have been killed in the incident, a police official said.

He ruled out possibility of injured persons in the incident.

He said that the cracker manufacturing unit was operational in the area in the past 15 years. Earlier, the unit was running inside a village. Now, it was shifted to an isolated area.

The matter is being investigated from all the angles, he added.