Polasara: At least 20 rooms gutted Thursday at Pandiripada village under this block in Ganjam district following an electrical short-circuit, fire brigade officer Rajendra Kumar Swain said.
Nine families were rendered homeless in the fire. The houses belonged to Kesab Nayak, Duryodhana Nayak, Bijay Nayak, Bhagbat Nayak, Trinath Nayak, Santosh Nayak, Dayanath Nayak, Abhagini Nayak and Binayak Bisoyi.
Valuables worth lakhs of rupees including electronic gadgets, household items, groceries and many important documents were reduced to ashes.
On being alerted, Polasara fire fighters reached the village and doused the flames. MLA Srikant Sahu visited the village and took stock of the situation. He assured fresh construction of houses under government scheme for all the victims.
A team of revenue officials also reached the village for a loss assessment and distributed dry foods and other items among the sufferers.