Bhubaneswar, Aug. 19: Five persons were killed in an early morning explosion at Siko village in Jankia police station limits in Khurda district today.

The explosion occurred in the house of local resident Sanei Sethi. The intensity of the explosion was such that the roof of the house was completely destroyed. Debris from the roof resulted in one death, sources said.

The explosion also damaged a neighbouring house where one person was killed. The deceased persons have been identified as Sethi's wife Babi, 40, his three daughters Dolly, 19, Madhabi, 8, and Tikili Sethi, 4, and his neighbour Dutee Sethi, 62.

Fire personnel and police rushed to the spot and conducted a rescue operation in the morning. Although the reason behind the explosion was still to be ascertained, sources said it could have been caused by an illegal cracker unit operating from the house.

Earlier in the day, the bodies of Sethi's daughter Dolly and neighbour Dutee Sethi were recovered from the spot, while the bodies of the other three were recovered later in the day.

A forensic team reached the spot in the evening and collected samples to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion. "We examined the site and collected the samples. We will shortly ascertain the reason," said a police officer.

The cops also said Sanei was absconding. "We have recovered the bodies and sent those for autopsy. We have begun a search to nab the owner of the house who has been missing since the incident. The reason of the explosion could also been ascertained after we get hold of him," said a Jankia police station officer.

A local resident said a loud noise around 6 in the morning woke them. "I saw smoke billowing in the air and was gripped by fear. I immediately called the police following which the fire personnel also came and conducted the rescue operation," said the villager.

Such explosions and fire incidents have become frequent in the state in recent times. On August 17, five persons were killed in two separate fire mishaps in Angul and Sambalpur. Three children were burnt alive after an LPG cylinder leak caused a fire in Sambalpur, while two sisters asphyxiated to death after their house caught fire in the wee hours in Angul.