Nayagarh: Houses of at least five families were reduced to ashes after a fire broke out at Srirampur in Daspalla block here Monday night. While no deaths or injuries have been reported yet, locals have alleged that fire personnel of Daspalla Station refused to work during their on-going state-wide cease-work stir.
The incident occurred late in the night Monday, when some villagers noticed smoke emerging from one of the houses. The inmates of that house and the ones nearby were immediately informed and they rushed out to save their lives.
Then a phone call was made to the fire department but the fire officials refused to take stock of the situation citing their ongoing state-wide indefinite cease-work strike, alleged the locals.
Following that, the villagers got together and after repeated attempts managed to douse the fire. However, five houses including several valuables had been gutted in the fire by then.
Meanwhile, panic and anger has gripped the locals of Daspalla due to Fire Services refusal to work.
Reportedly, Fire Services personnel launched an indefinite strike from Monday with a six-point charter of demands including requests like getting pay at par with the Odisha Police personnel and limited 8-hour working period per day.
PNN
