Baripada: Properties worth Rs 25 lakh were destroyed in a fire which broke out in Madhuban, Garage Sahi in the town. At least 12 vehicles and five automobile repairing shops were gutted in the fire that broke out in wee hours of Monday. Fortunately there were no casualtes in the mishap.
According to police three pick up vans, two cars, six tractors and a motorcycle were gutted in the fire.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. The incident is being probed by a forensic team.
A garage worker Kishore Kumar Parjapati alleged that some miscreants tried to enter the garage, probably with an intention of committing theft. They fled, however, when the workers challenged them.
The incident occurred after five of the boys working in the repairing shops went to sleep after 12 am. Locals noticed the flames in the shops and the vehicles and woke up the boys.
They informed the fire personnel at Belgadia office at 3.43 am who arrived at the spot at 4 am. By then the shops and vehicles were completely gutted.
The blaze was so severe that the fire personnel had to struggle till 7 in morning to control the fire.
According to initial estimates the fire caused a loss of about Rs 25 lakh, fire officer PK Jena said.
The inferno reminded of the worst ever fire mishap hitting the town in Madhuban area in 1997. As many as 197 people were charred to death after a massive fire swept through the camp of a religious conference February 23, 1997. Over 10,000 devotees were attending the conference held under makeshift tents. A fire broke out and swept all over the area within minutes claiming 197 lives. PNN
