Odisha Forest Official Succumbs To Burns Sustained In Fire Mishap At Home

Berhampur: Assistant Conservator of Forests, Paralakhemundi, Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra on Tuesday succumbed to burn injuries while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Cuttack.

According to sources, he had sustained 80 per cent burns in a fire mishap at his residence the previous night. He was rescued in a half-charred state by his neighbours and rushed to Gajapati district headquarters hospital and then to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. He was later shifted to a private hospital in Cuttack in a critical condition.

The ACF had sustained third-degree burns, hospital sources said.

It is still not clear whether it was an accident or a suicide attempt. DFO, Tehsildar, SDPO and Paralakhemundi Police IIC have initiated a probe into the incident.