Police seized illegal firecrackers worth more than Rs 40 lakh from two godowns in Saira village under Tirtol police station in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district on Monday night and arrested three people accused of storing the material without licences.
The godowns were located in densely populated areas, according to the police account reported by the Times of India, and officials found that the firecrackers had not been stored in a scientific manner. The arrested men were identified as Abhilas Prusti, Ramesh Prusti and Ganyesh Prusti, all residents of Putinga village.
The seizure follows a blast in Mahilo village in Jagatsinghpur district on October 8, in which a father and son were killed. Three other people, including two women, suffered serious burn injuries in the explosion. The reported arrests and recovery have brought renewed attention to the risks created by unauthorised firecracker storage inside or near residential settlements.
Police said the two godowns did not have the required permits. The report did not specify the exact quantity or types of firecrackers recovered, nor did it state whether the storage locations were formally approved for commercial use. It also did not identify the ownership or tenancy status of the premises.
Ramesh Prusti had previously been arrested on October 11 on allegations of illegally storing firecrackers in a house. He was released on bail last week, according to the report. Police have now arrested him again along with Abhilas Prusti and Ganyesh Prusti in connection with the seizure from the two godowns.
The case highlights the enforcement challenge posed by hazardous materials kept in built-up areas without licensing or safe-storage arrangements. In densely settled villages and peri-urban areas, such storage can place neighbouring homes and residents close to fire and blast risks, while also complicating emergency response and evacuation.
The latest police action comes after a fatal incident in the same district and involves a recovery valued at more than Rs 40 lakh. The reported material was seized from both locations, and the three accused were taken into custody. Further legal and investigative steps will determine the charges and establish how the firecrackers reached the godowns.
