Berhampur: In a tragic incident, four children, including a girl, succumbed to the critical burn injuries sustained in a fire mishap at Khairachata village of Polasara in Ganjam district on Sunday. The deceased have been identified as Sairam, Dipak, Itishree and Alok.
According to reports, all the four kids were playing near a heap of paddy straw when it reportedly caught fire. Though it is still unclear what sparked the fire, the children were rescued and rushed to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in a critical condition.
The incident occurred at around 9: 30 am. All the children were playing after their tuitions are over. Local residents said that as it was a narrow space, children could not save themselves.
“My two sons- Sairam and Subham were playing along with other children when the mishap occurred. I was cooking when locals raised an alarm about the inferno,” said Pratima Jani, mother of deceased Sairam.
Reports suggest all had sustained over 50 per cent burn injuries and three of them succumbed while undergoing treatment at the hospital. Another child who was critical succumbed later in the day.
“Two children had been brought dead to the hospital. The condition of another child, who has sustained nearly 40 to 50 per cent burn injuries, is critical. We are trying to stabilise his condition and will shift him to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack,” said Dr Sunil Agarwal, HOD of Paediatrics department of MKCG.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the death of three children and announced an ex-gratia of Rs four lakh each to the families of the deceased.
Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also condoled the deaths of the children in the mishap.