Bhubaneswar, February 19 A woman and her three-year-old daughter were killed, and another family member was critically injured in a firecracker explosion near Cuttack, Odisha, on Thursday evening, police said.
The incident occurred in Mahajanpur village, under the Jagatpur police station limits.
The deceased were identified as Sudhansubala Nayak and her daughter, Stitaprangya Nayak. Bharati Nayak suffered serious injuries in the blast, according to police.
The three injured were taken to the SCB Medical College and Hospital, where the woman and her child succumbed to their injuries during treatment. The other injured woman is currently on a ventilator, police said.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the firecrackers were stored at the house, and the family members were making them when the explosion occurred. The blast severely damaged two rooms in the house, an officer said.
An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the incident.