Kohima: At least four people sustained burn injuries following a blast linked to gunpowder handling at the Hornbill Festival venue in Nagaland’s Kisama village, officials said on Wednesday.
The incident took place on Tuesday at a Morung set up by the Sangtam tribe, where gunpowder was being manually dried as part of preparations involving traditional firearms.
The gunpowder accidentally ignited, triggering a blast at the site.
A tribal leader said the injured were Konyak men engaged by the Union to operate a muzzle-loading gun and manage locally made gunpowder for ceremonial purposes.
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No visitors or tourists were affected in the incident, and initial assessments suggested the injuries were not life-threatening.
The injured were provided first aid at the emergency medical facility at Kisama and were later referred to the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima for further treatment.
Sources later confirmed that one of the injured suffered severe burn injuries and may require specialised medical attention, while the other three sustained minor to moderate burns.
All four remain under medical observation.
