Jajpur/Bhubaneswar: In a tragic incident, a girl was charred to death and as many as six rooms were reduced to ashes after fire broke out in a house in Banapur village of Jajpur district.
The girl Smita Rani, identified as the daughter of Nityananda Jena, is reportedly a Plus II student studying in a local college. As per sources, Smita was alone when the mishap took place and could not escape out of the house. Soon, fire personnel rushed to the spot to douse the flames. Later the body was recovered and sent for post mortem.
Sources further said properties worth lakhs of rupees have been damaged in the fire mishap.
In another incident in Bhubaneswar, more than 20 houses were gutted by fire today in a slum near Rasulgarh flyover in the capital city. However, no casualty was reported in the incident.
As per sources, the mishap took place in the afternoon at the slum located behind the Rasulgarh Durga Puja Mandap. Soon locals swung into action but failed to control it.
Though three fire tenders were pressed into action to douse the flames, locals have alleged that the fire could not be controlled early as the fire personnel reached the spot late.
Though the actual reason behind the mishap is yet to be ascertained, short circuit is suspected to be the cause of the blaze.
In a similar incident today, fire broke out at a fair price shop in Puri. Sources said kerosene barrels were stored in the shop due to which the entire shop was engulfed with fire. However, latest reports claimed that efforts are on by fire personnel to douse the flames.