Ganjam: Four houses and an equal number of bikes were gutted in a major fire which broke out in Jhadankuli village in Kukudakhandi block of Satakutuni Panchayat early on Saturday morning.
As per reports, the fire broke out at around 1:30 am in the Dakhina Sahi area of Jhadankuli and spread to four houses in no time. Four motorcycles kept in those houses were also reduced to ashes in the fire.
Though the mishap occurred in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep, however, no one was injured as they woke up and came out in the nick of time.
As per the survivors they were sleeping in their houses when the fire occurred. However, they all managed to rush out of their houses after they noticed the flames and smoke.
Panic-stricken villagers initially tried to douse the flames by pouring water and sand on the burning houses. However, the four houses were gutted in front of their eyes within a few minutes.
The fire brigade was informed on time and the inferno was stopped from spreading further as fire personnel managed to control the situation quickly.
Though the fire was doused the four families whose houses were gutted have lost property worth lakhs of rupees, including household articles and valuables.
Though the exact reason behind the mishap is still not clear, the fire brigade has launched an investigation to ascertain the same.