Massive fire erupts in Odisha village; petrol barrel explosion suspected cause

A major fire broke out in a house in Sundarpur village under Chhatrapur police limits in Ganjam district on Friday afternoon. The blaze, believed to have been caused by a petrol barrel explosion, destroyed the entire house, sparking panic among villagers.

Also Read: Odisha bans ‘illegal’ sale of petrol in plastic bottles, statewide crackdown from today

According to sources, a fire incident has rocked the village’s Balisahi locality in Ganjam, where a house caught fire and was completely gutted. Eyewitnesses described the flames as uncontrollable, with no one daring to approach due to the intense heat and smoke.

It is said that the fire originated from a petrol barrel explosion inside the house of Krushna Chandra Sahu, who was allegedly storing petrol for resale. The explosion triggered a massive blaze, which quickly engulfed the entire house within a few minutes.

Fortunately, the family members escaped with minor injuries, narrowly avoiding a greater tragedy. Upon receiving the alert, two fire brigade vehicles from Chhatrapur reached the spot and managed to control the fire after a sustained effort for over an hour.

Despite quick action, most of the household belongings and furniture were reduced to ashes, leaving the family in deep distress. Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion and assessing the extent of property damage.

Locals have urged for stricter monitoring of illegal fuel storage, particularly in residential areas, to prevent such dangerous incidents in the future.

No comments were received from local police or the house owner in this regard.

Worth mentioning, starting July 22 this year, enforcement teams across Odisha launched a major crackdown targeting the illegal sale of petrol in plastic bottles and open markets.

The move comes after multiple incidents in which inflammable fuels were used in violent crimes, including the Balasore FM College self-immolation bid, prompting the State government to adopt a strict ‘zero-tolerance’ policy.