Kataka: A devastating early morning fire engulfed a three-storey residential building in Hatipokhari area of Kataka’s Dargha Bazaar locality, claiming the life of a six-year-old boy and leaving an elderly relative critically injured.
The fire broke out at around 5 on Monday, rapidly engulfing multiple floors and triggering widespread panic across the dense neighbourhood.
Eyewitnesses Describe Early-Morning Scare
Local residents described a scene of sheer chaos as the flames quickly roared upward, turning the building into a raging furnace.
“The fire started from the ground floor and quickly raced all the way up to the third floor, turning completely fierce,” a local resident recalled, describing the harrowing scene. “Nothing could be seen clearly; bedding, sheets, and everything inside turned completely red under the massive glare of the fire.”
Before firefighters arrived, neighbours braved the blaze to assist the trapped family, navigating a tight alleyway behind the building.
“When the blast happened and the fire flared up, people rushed out,” another resident shared. “Despite the extreme danger, they showed immense courage to rescue family members. The boy and an elderly relative—who is differently-abled—were trapped inside. Residents managed to pull them out despite a narrow gap of just three to four feet, navigating intense heat and thick smoke.”
Firefighters Battle Blocked Entrances and Explosions
Upon receiving the distress call, teams from Buxi Bazaar Fire Station along with local police personnel rushed to the scene. Firefighters confronted significant obstacles, including a locked front entrance and volatile materials inside.
“Two fire service teams were deployed to rescue those trapped inside the building. The front entrance was locked and the intensity of the fire made it difficult for the teams to enter through that side. Three other people were rescued from the building. One woman escaped unharmed, while the other two ncluding the six-year-old boy and an elderly man, were rescued from the backside and shifted to the hospital,” said Fire Officer Prashant Dhal.
ACP Girija Sankar Chakraborty (Zone-II, Cuttack) noted that police personnel quickly joined firefighters to coordinate the rescue operations, which took nearly three hours to bring under control.
During the operation, firefighters found three LPG cylinders inside the structure, at least two of which reportedly exploded during the blaze, significantly increasing the fire’s intensity.
Casualties and Investigation
The six-year-old boy succumbed to his severe injuries while undergoing emergency treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital. The elderly relative remains in critical condition, fighting for his life.
A relative of the family expressed grief and confusion over the sudden tragedy: “The entire family was inside the house. My sister, her husband and their son were there. Her mother-in-law was also present. I have lost my nephew. We are unable to understand how this happened.”
While preliminary assessments suggest the blaze may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit, possibly linked to decorative lighting, authorities and fire safety teams continue their investigation to ascertain its exact cause.
