Dhenkanal: At least 19 sheep and five goats were charred to death and household items worth lakhs of rupees reduced to ashes after an LPG cylinder went off at Juangsahi in Mahisapat area under Ward-8 of this municipality late Thursday night.
Family members of Sudar Padhan had a narrow escape as they had slept outside the house due to extreme humid conditions.
According to reports, the cylinder exploded late in the night and two rooms, one each of Sudar’s two sons, were reduced to ashes.
Apart from Rs 50,000 cash kept for the marriage of Sudar’s daughter, four quintals of paddy, one quintal rice and other belongings perished in the flame. The farm animals tied inside a shed were roasted alive. A portion of the house belonging to Naba Padhan, a neighbour, was also gutted.
On being informed, fire brigade personnel reached the site and doused the fire.
While the fire victims have taken shelter on the verandah of another neighbour, municipal chairman Sudhansu Kumar Dalei provided them preliminary assistance of 50 kg of rice and Rs 2,000 in cash to tide over the crisis temporarily.
Revenue officials made a loss assessment Friday.
According to reports, Sudar’s wife Jayanti had received the cylinder in April under Ujjwala Scheme.
While the reason of blast was not immediately known, Sudar lodged a complaint with Town Police urging them to investigate the matter.
PNN