Suryap

Balasore: Paddy crops were destroyed after fire spread over 40 acre farmland in Dhuliuda village under Basta block of Balasore district today.

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.

"I had cultivated paddy in five acres. But everything has been damaged because of the fire. If the government provides some assistance, we would be able to survive,” Madhab Charan Jena, a farmer of Dhuliuda.

Meanwhile, Jaleswar MLA and Basta Tehsildar visited the spot and took stock of the situation.

“A probe will be launched into fire mishap. The Revenue Inspector (RI) has been directed to assess the losses. Assistance will be provided as per the government provisions,” Basta Tehsildar, Narendra Khamari, said.

In a similar incident, crops in more than 1.5 acres were destroyed at Mandarada village under Darada panchayat in Basta block.

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