An alleged “explosion” triggered panic among residents of Padmabati village in Odisha’s Nayagarh district on Tuesday afternoon (June 19).
According to Odisha TV, a loud explosion was heard near Rasabihari temple in the village around 2 pm when local children were playing nearby.
Villagers initially thought an earthquake has struck and immediately lefttheir homes and came out in the open.
Post the incident, villagers noticed a huge crack in an area adjoining the temple. A portion of the nearby road was also caved in.
As per witnesses, about 50-feet crack developed across the main road. Walls of some of the houses developed cracks too. “There was a loud sound as if a bomb has exploded. We thought an earthquake has struck and rushed out of our houses,” said a villager.
However, there is no official confirmation about the incident.