Three killed in early morning blaze at Bhubaneswar apartment

BHUBANESWAR: Three members of a family, including an elderly couple and their minor granddaughter, died after a major fire broke out early on Wednesday at Basant Villa apartments in Bhubaneswar’s Laxmisagar area.

The blaze is believed to have started around 4 to 4.30 A.M., triggering panic among residents as smoke rapidly spread through the building.

Speaking to IANS, Deputy Fire Officer, Bhubaneswar, Narayan Dash said that the fire services officials received an emergency call at around 5 A.M. about the fire incident. The personnel along with advanced fire equipment immediately reached the spot and brought the fire under control, preventing further escalation.

“Preliminary investigation suggests that the fire originated from an electrical short circuit at the electric panel near the staircase on the stilt. Some bicycles, parked near the panel caught fire due to sparks from the panel, resulting in thick smoke and blaze, which made evacuation challenging for the deceased family members residing in a room near the panel,” said Dash.

Sources said the fire may have originated from an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging point. However, the exact cause of the blaze is yet to be officially confirmed.