Another Ganjam Haystack Fire Victim Succumbs To Burns

Cuttack: The fourth child, who had sustained over 60 per cent burns in a haystack fire on Sunday, succumbed while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital here later in the evening.

The incident had taken place at Kharichhata village under Polasara block in Ganjam district. The mishap victims, Sairam Jani, Deepak Gouda, Itishree Jena and Alok Jena, were rushed to Community Health Centre at Polasara in a critical condition by their family members and other villagers. As their condition worsened, they were then shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.

Sairam, Deepak and Itishree, all below the age of 10, succumbed to the burn injuries later. Two among them were brought to the hospital dead, doctors said.

Alok (5), who continued to battle for life, was later shifted to the premier hospital in Cuttack for better treatment. However, he breathed his last there.

Following the incident, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed sorrow over the death of the children and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the family of the deceased.