Athamallik: Over 44 families have been left homeless after a devastating blaze swept through Badabandh village in Angul district Tuesday. Property worth lakhs of rupees has been reduced to ashes in the inferno, according to reports.
While no casualties were reported, 14 goats were charred to death in the fire.
Residents were unable to bring their belongings out to safety as the blaze leapt from one house to the other within minutes, forcing villagers to run for cover with only the clothes on their back.
The fire which started from a garbage heap soon spread to houses on both sides of the road when villagers were resting in their houses after lunch. The villagers tried to douse the fire but they failed as the fire spread from one house to another aided by strong gusts of wind.
The sudden spread of fire left the villagers with little time to retrieve their properties as they ran outside with their family members to save their lives.
The mishap triggered scenes of despair in the village as residents began crying out of shock after seeing their houses burn up in front of their eyes.
On being informed, fire tenders from Athamallik, Boudh and Redhakhole reached the spot and doused the fire after hours of efforts.
Sub-collector Dibya Lochan Mohanta, assistant collector Basil Kumar Kulu, block development officer Niranjan Sahu, Zilla Parishad member Chittaranjan Karna and Aaida revenue officials reached the spot and assured of all help to the villagers while conducting an assessment of the loss.
Aaida sarpanch Dasarath Pradhan ordered to serve cooked food to the villagers. PNN
