Bhadrak: A cluster of 19 houses belonging to nine families were reduced to ashes in a fire at Chandimal village under Basudevpur block late Saturday night. The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, police said, but locals suspected there was short-circuit.
As usual, the locals went to sleep after dinner. Sparks erupted in one Debendra Biswal’s house, it caught fire and the fire spread to adjoining houses. Despite the villagers’ efforts to tame the flames, the fire turned into a massive blaze and flames ate up 19 houses.
Assets worth lakhs – including furniture, electronic goods, land records, bank passbooks and small stocks of currency – went up in flames in a matter of minutes. This being the height of summer, the fire spread fast.
A fire force team from Basudevpur arrived and brought the flames under control within a couple of hours.
Villagers demanded compensation for the affected families. Revenue officials reached the village Sunday morning and took stock of the situation. Necessary compensation would be provided to the affected families as per government norms, an official said.
