TNI Bureau: Three members of a family, including two women and a four-year-old girl, died after sustaining critical burn injuries in a powerful explosion at their house in Mahajanpur under Jagatpur police limits in Cuttack.

The deceased have been identified as Sudhansubala Nayak (34), her mother-in-law Pravati Nayak (60), and Sudhansubala’s minor daughter. According to police, the explosion occurred at around 6.15 pm while Sudhansubala and Pravati Nayak were allegedly handling firecracker materials inside their house. The child was also present in the same room at the time of the blast.

The explosion triggered a massive fire, causing the asbestos roof of the house to collapse and trapping the three victims inside. They suffered severe burn injuries in the incident.

Neighbours rushed to the spot after hearing the explosion and informed fire services and police. The injured were first taken to a nearby hospital and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries during treatment.

Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion and to verify whether firecrackers were being manufactured or stored illegally at the house.