Houses Of Five Families Gutted, Fire Personnel Refused To Turn Up

Nayagarh: Houses of five families were gutted after a major fire broke out at Srirampur in Dasapalla of Nayagarh district on Monday night.

The fire engulfed houses and properties worth several lakhs of rupees one after another as the fire services personnel refused to attend the call to douse the blaze owing to their ongoing cease-work strike.

“Despite several requests, the fire personnel did not respond to calls for rescue operation citing indefinite cease-work agitation. We have become completely helpless after losing all our valuables and money in the devastating fire,” an affected person said.

The fire personnel are on strike across the state since Monday morning to press for their demands including wages at par with Odisha police, regularisation of contractual employees, disbursal of pension of retired employees and registration of Havildar firemen association.