More than 20 shanties in a slum near the Indradhanu Market under the Nayapalli police station here were gutted in a major fire that broke out on Monday. No casualties were reported in the incident, but most of the slum-dwellers have lost almost all their belongings.
The fire broke out at around 11.30 am.
Three fire tenders, one from the Fire Station Headquarters and two from the Kalpana Fire Station, were rushed to the spot to douse the flame.
Sources said the fire could have broken out from a kitchen and it engulfed the adjacent houses speedily.
However, fire brigade officials are investigating the cause of the fire.
Bhubaneswar (North) MlA Priyadarshi Mishra, under which constitution the slum falls, rushed to the spot and supervised the relief and rehabilitation operations.
“All alternative arrangements like food, clothes, shelter for the hapless slum dwellers have already been ensured. Financial assistance would be provided to the victims tomorrow,” said Mishra.
Meanwhile officials of the Khordha district administration reached the slim to assess the situation.
“We will provide all necessary help to the families which have lost their houses. Besides, we are also providing cooked food for the slum residents,” an official said.