Orissa's cracker unit blast toll rises to 8

The death toll in the blast at a cracker manufacturing unit near Balasore mounted to eight today as a boy, who had sustained critical burns, succumbed to his injuries.

The death toll in the blast at a cracker manufacturing unit near Balasore mounted to eight today as a boy, who had sustained critical burns, succumbed to his injuries during treatment, police said.

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Khokan Gochhayat (14), who had been shifted to a hospital at Baripada on Sunday night after his condition deteriorated, died in the early hours, they said, adding that two other victims with critical burns were also undergoing treatment.

Seven people were killed and three injured when the blast took place at a house near Gunduripada under Basta police station where crackers are being manufactured for the forthcoming Dussehra and Diwali festivals.

The blast occurred apparently after some of the crackers caught fire in the house of one Srustidhar Nayak, who was absconding, the sources said.

Eyewitnesses said the roof of house, allotted under Indira Awas Yojana, was blown off under the impact of the blast.

Police were verifying whether the cracker unit has a license.