Bhubaneswar: Three persons, including a minor girl, were killed after a fire broke out at an apartment in Laxmisagar area of Bhubaneswar in the early hours of Wednesday.
The victims have been identified as Biswajit Behera (70), his wife Sulabha Behera (65), and their granddaughter Tejeswari Behera (10).
As per preliminary information, the fire was suspected to have been triggered by an electric short circuit in the power panel board located in the gua
rd room at the basement of the Basanti Villa Apartment complex.
Biswajit worked as a security guard and lived with his family in the single basement room. He and his wife reportedly died on the spot after being trapped in the fire. The minor girl, who sustained critical injuries in the incident, succumbed while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Her family members confirmed the death.
Sources said over 27 residents were safely rescued during the operation. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, though an electrical short circuit is being considered as the likely reason.
Further investigation into the incident is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the fire in the building comprising 12 flats in the four floors.
Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das, who visited the site, noted that the apartment lacked basic fire safety measures and did not have a registered housing society.