Bhanjanagar: In a horrific incident, as many 100 families were rendered homeless after a devastating fire broke out at Khamareddy village under this block in Ganjam district Friday. A total of 250 rooms were reduced to ashes in the mishap.
Valuables worth Rs 50 lakh including electronic gadgets, household items, documents and quintals of rice were gutted while no casualties were reported.
About five persons were critically hurt in a bid to douse the flames. The victims took shelter under trees while the prevailing cold compounded their woes.
On learning of the incident, block and revenue officials reached the village and took stock of the situation while no exact reason behind the fire breakout was ascertained.
Bhanjanagar fire brigade personnel were pressed into service.
According to sources, most of the inhabitants of the village belonged to Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste communities.
Friday, the villagers had been to work leaving behind their children. To everyone’s surprise, a sudden fire broke out that slowly engulfed the entire village. In no time, the fire reduced about 250 rooms into ashes.
Locals tried in vain to rescue their belongings from their houses.
Project Director of District Rural Development Agency, Bhanjanagar BDO Subrat Behera, tehsildar Sambit Rout, additional tehsildar Laxman Kumar Soren, Jagannathprasad additional tehsildar Pramod Dalbehera, revenue inspectors and others helped in rehabilitation of the victims.
Food was supplied to them while cooking facilities were arranged for three days. The affected families were provided shelter at schools and Anganwadi centres.
An assessment of the loss of properties would be made after fire is completely doused, officials said. PNN
