Two people were killed and ten others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a firecracker warehouse in Jhiakata village of Odisha&rsquo;s Boudh district on Sunday. The blast, which police suspect was triggered by illegally stored explosives, also damaged several nearby houses.
The deceased have been identified as Bhagaban Behera and Laxmidhar Behera, both residents of Jhiakata. Shocked villagers recalled the chaos as the explosion tore through their homes. &ldquo;We were at home when a deafening blast shook the entire village. Many were injured, and two people from our family died. We demand strict action against those involved,&rdquo; said a relative of one of the victims.
Fire services and police teams rushed to the spot, pulling survivors from the debris and rushing the injured to hospitals in Boudh and Phulbani. Doctors treating them said several remain in critical condition.
Authorities have launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire and are verifying reports that a large cache of firecrackers and explosives had been stored illegally inside the building.
The tragedy has reignited concerns over unregulated firecracker warehouses in rural Odisha, where safety checks are often lax. Police officials assured that accountability will be fixed once the probe is completed.

Odisha blast kills 2, injures 10 in Boudh

Firecracker warehouse explodes in Jhiakata village; probe on illegal storage

Odisha blast kills 2, injures 10 in Boudh

Firecracker warehouse explodes in Jhiakata village; probe on illegal storage

September 22, 2025 | 12:45 IST