Paddy worth Rs 10 lakh destroyed in fire at Ganjam village, farmers seek govt aid

A major fire incident destroyed paddy worth nearly Rs 10 lakh at Sandhikendu village under Sorada police station limits in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Saturday night, leaving several farmers in distress. The blaze reduced stacked paddy belonging to multiple farmers to ashes, wiping out nearly a year’s harvest.

According to reports, the fire broke out late at night at a paddy stacking site where farmers had stored their harvested crop. The incident came to light early Sunday morning when locals noticed flames and alerted the Sorada Fire Department.

Fire personnel rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. However, by the time the fire was extinguished, all the paddy stacks had been completely destroyed.

Large-Scale Loss to Farmers

Farmers said paddy harvested from more than 15 acres of farmland was lost in the incident. Balmiki Bisoi, one of the affected farmers, alleged that the fire was deliberately set during the night. He said around 15 to 20 farmers had stacked their paddy at the site, and the entire stock was destroyed in the blaze. According to the farmers, the total loss is estimated at nearly Rs 10 lakh.

As per reports, at least 13 farmers had stored their paddy at the location when the fire broke out. The farmers said they had spent the entire year cultivating and harvesting the crop, only to see it destroyed overnight.

Appeal for Compensation, Police Probe Underway

The affected farmers have appealed to the government to provide immediate compensation for their losses. They said that without financial assistance, they may be forced to migrate outside the state in search of labour work to sustain their livelihoods.

A complaint has been registered with Badagada police, following which an investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause of the fire and identify those responsible.