As many as three girls below five-years were burnt to death after a fire broke out in a paddy field in Bijmara village of Dharmagarh area under the Koksara police station in Kalahandi district on Saturday.
The victims were identified as Rosy Disari and Desy Disari, daughter of Hemraj Disari of the village and another minor identified as Rachna Rout.
Reports said the mishap occurred at around 12:30 pm when the girls were playing near a paddy field. Suddenly a fire broke out in the field where haystacks were kept. They sustained grievous injuries.
Spotting the smoke emanating from the field, locals and neighbours rushed to the spot and rescued the kids.
The injured children were rushed to Koksara PHC and later shifted to Kalahandi DHH as their health condition deteriorated. On being informed, fire tenders also reached the spot and doused the flames.
According to a doctor at Koksara PHC, the condition of the children was very critical as 80 per cent of their body parts were burnt when they were brought to the hospital.