Bhubaneswar (Special Correspondent, The Fact Bureau): A tragic fire incident in the early hours of Wednesday claimed the lives of two caretakers at an apartment complex in the Laxmisagar area in Bhubaneswar.
The blaze broke out at Basanti (Basant) Villa Apartment under the jurisdiction of Laxmisagar police station at around 4 am, when most residents were asleep. According to preliminary reports, the fire is suspected to have originated due to a short circuit, possibly from the electrical panel board in the guard room.
The victims have been identified as Biswajit Behera, a security guard, and Sulabha Behera, a caretaker. Both reportedly got trapped inside the smoke-filled premises and died due to suffocation and burn injuries before they could escape.
A minor girl, believed to be related to the victims, sustained serious injuries in the incident and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Fire services personnel reached the spot soon after receiving information and launched an extensive firefighting and rescue operation. The flames were eventually brought under control, and several residents trapped inside the building were safely evacuated.
Officials said the fire caused significant damage to property within the apartment complex, with vehicles and parts of the building also affected.
Police have recovered the bodies and initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the fire. While a short circuit is suspected, authorities are examining the site in detail to rule out other possibilities.
The incident has left residents in shock, as the deceased were known faces in the apartment and were responsible for maintaining daily operations.
It has also once again highlighted the urgent need for stricter fire safety measures and regular inspection of electrical systems in residential complexes.
