Oupada: A devastating blaze tore through a cluster of houses at Gadasahi village under Oupada block in Balasore district Saturday night, leaving 11 families homeless and property worth lakhs of rupees gutted.
The cause of the fire is suspected to be a short circuit.
Reports said between 1 am-2 am, a fire broke out when villagers were asleep. The villagers awoke with a start after the fire gained in intensity. They rushed out and alerted firefighters and then managed to bring their domestic animals out to safety and salvage whatever assets they could.
The fire had reduced 16 rooms of eight families to ashes by the time fire tenders arrived. A woman identified as Malati Khatua (72) sustained critical burns while her son Babaji Khatua was also wounded.
Sacks of paddy, rice, and belongings were burnt while some fowl also perished in the fire, it is learnt. Malati was shifted to Oupada hospital by firefighters.
Villagers whose houses were gutted included Babaji Khatua, Malati Khatua, Maheswar Khandei, Mahendra Khatua, Bauli Kuanr, Madhab Giri, Sadhab Giri, Jhunu Giri and Chintamnai Khatua.
Oupada tehsildar Ratnakar Kandi, Nilagiiri sub-collector Ghasiram Murmu and revenue inspectors Karunakar Padhi and assistant revenue inspector Somnath Singh rushed to the place to assess the loss.
The team has recommended to the administration for assistance to the victims of the blaze.
Several local leaders including MLA Sukant Nayak, former MLA Pratapchandra Sadangi and former sarpanch Nityananda Muduli visited the place. PNN
