Berhampur: BJD leader and president of Berhampur Cooperative Society Alekh Choudhury (69) and two others perished in a fire mishap at his residence at Panigrahi Sahi under Gosaninuagaon panchayat in Ganjam district late on Thursday.
The fire, which broke out around 2.15 am, is said that have been caused by short-circuit in the air conditioner.
The other deceased are the BJD leader’s brother-in-law Bhagaban Patra (84) and caretaker of his house, Sunil Behera (19).
The trio trapped inside the house were rescued by Fire Service personnel and admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital Berhampur, where the doctors declared them dead.
“The cause of the fire and loss is being assessed,” said Assistant Fire Officer Sanatan.
Choudhury was the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) secretary and former president of Ganjam District Congress Committee prior to joining the BJD along with more than a hundred of his supporters in presence of BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar on May 22, 2014.
