Berhampur: A major fire broke out at Geta Muslim slum near Biju Patnaik Park in Berhampur Thursday, leaving 33 families homeless. Nearly 56 houses perished in the fire while properties worth `21 lakh were gutted. The fire started from a gas cylinder. No casualties were reported.
Reports said the fire rose from a gas stove in a house at about 12.30 pm and it quickly engulfed the slum. Firemen reached the spot immediately and doused the fire. They rescued several families from their houses. After nearly two hours of frenetic rescue work, the blaze was brought under control. But by then, a lot of assets inside the houses had perished even as people were seen crying all around.
The quantum of loss of the property was estimated at `21 lakh. Firemen managed to recover assets worth `60 lakh and saved 16 families. MLA Ramesh Chandra Chyaupatnaik, sub-collector Sidhartha Shankar Swain, BDA chairperson Subash Maharana and BMC commissioner Chakrabarti Singh Rathore rushed to the area and sympathised with the fire survivors.
The MLA stated that the fire victims would be provided temporary accommodation intwo schools, along with provision of free food.
PNN
