Puri: Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and ACS Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Satyabrata Sahu today started his inquiry into the massive blast of firecrackers in Puri.
The SRC has started conducting hearings at the Special Circuit House here from 3 PM. He is hearing the Puri SP, district police, other senior officials of district administration and the victims along with their family members. The hearing will continue till 7PM.
After conducting the hearing, the SRC will submit his report to the government with necessary recommendations.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the Puri firecracker explosion rose to 15 as two more persons succumbed to their burn injuries, according to a statement issued by the Special Relief Commissioner on Wednesday.
Presently, 12 people injured in the explosion are undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, it said, adding that nine injured have been discharged from the health facilities.
Altogether 36 people were injured in the explosion of a stockpile of firecrackers that happened during Lord Jagannath’s ‘Chandan Yatra’, a ritual, on the night of May 29 in Puri.
The Puri Collector has taken steps for the payment of ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased, an official said.