Bhubaneswar, 06 May (H.S.): A major fire broke out in the early hours of Wednesday at Basant Villa Apartment in the Laxmisagar area of Bhubaneswar, claiming the lives of two caretakers and leaving a minor girl seriously injured.

The deceased have been identified as Biswajit Behera, a security guard, and Sulabha Behera, a caretaker. The injured minor was promptly shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The fire is suspected to have originated from a short circuit in the electrical panel board located in the guard room. The incident occurred at around 4:00 am, when most residents of the apartment were asleep.

Upon receiving information, fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after a swift operation. Rescue efforts were also carried out to evacuate residents trapped inside the building.

Officials stated that the victims likely died due to suffocation and burn injuries. The fire also caused significant damage to property within the apartment complex.

Police have initiated an investigation into the incident, and further details are awaited as authorities continue to assess the extent of the damage and circumstances leading to the fire.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda