TV
Over 70 bags of paddy were reduced to ashes after a devastating fire broke out at Khalingi village under Sanakhemundi block in Ganjam district on Saturday. As per reports, the incident occurred when a villager set alight a heap of straw, inadvertently causing the flames to spread to nearby stacks of paddy.
Farmers had recently harvested and bagged the paddy, intending to store it safely. However, the fire from the straw spread quickly, damaging sacks of paddy. The estimated financial loss due to the fire exceeds Rs 1 lakh, as the paddy was completely engulfed by the flames.
Upon being informed, the Digapahandi fire brigade responded promptly, reaching the scene to extinguish the blaze.
Must Read: Farmers in Odisha protest over disruptions in paddy procurement process
Notably, unseasonal rains across Odisha have caused severe damage to the paddy crops this year. As a result, farmers are also facing sever crisis in paddy procurement process.
In a similar manner, paddy was destroyed after fire spread over 40 acre farmland in Dhuliuda village under Basta block of Balasore district. As per reports, the fire started from Natakata panchayat area and in no time engulfed the crops. Though villagers tried to bring the fire under control, their efforts hardly yielded any result. Sources said that the Basta fire brigade unit could not reach the spot due to lack of motorable road.
