Brahmapur: A festive procession for Ganesh idol immersion in the town of Purushottampur, located in Odisha’s Ganjam district, took a tragic turn late Friday night when five children were seriously injured in a petrol canister explosion near a generator.

Reports indicate that the incident occurred as the procession made its way through the town. A group of children was sitting close to the idol on a vehicle, adjacent to an operating generator set. A petrol-filled canister placed near the hot generator is believed to have overheated, igniting and causing an explosion that sent flames toward the children, resulting in burns on their backs, legs, and bodies.

Immediate action was taken by residents and attendees, who rushed to put out the flames and assist the injured. The children were initially taken to a nearby Ayushman Arogya Mandir for preliminary treatment, but due to the seriousness of their injuries, they were later transferred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Brahmapur for specialized care.

The local police and Tehsildar quickly arrived at the scene and later monitored the treatment arrangements at the hospital.

The injured children have been identified as Itishree Nayak (4), Suhani Nayak (11), Bhumi Nayak (8), Rahari Nayak (7), and Bikash Nayak (5), all from Sitarampur Agraharam Sahi. Fortunately, medical updates report that all five are currently in stable condition.

Authorities have initiated an investigation to ascertain the precise circumstances that led to the ignition of the fuel.

This unfortunate event is part of a troubling pattern of accidents associated with Ganesh immersion celebrations in Odisha. On September 16, a series of drowning incidents during the visarjan processions resulted in the loss of at least 11 lives, including several children, in various locations including Bhadrak, Sundaragada, Ganjam, and Jagatsinghpur districts.