Bhubaneswar: Four persons sustained injuries after a fire broke out at Nilapadma Apartment in the Jharpada area of Bhubaneswar on Thursday. The blaze, suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit in an air conditioner, caused panic among residents before being brought under control by fire personnel.
According to preliminary information, thick smoke was seen billowing from flat number 203 of the apartment building, where a couple was residing. Alert local residents quickly informed the Fire Services department after noticing the smoke. Fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and managed to douse the flames before the fire could spread further.
The couple living in the affected flat and a security guard were among those injured in the incident. In total, four people were reported hurt. All the injured were rescued and admitted to Capital Hospital for treatment. Their condition is stated to be stable.
As a precautionary measure, other residents of the apartment were evacuated during the firefighting operation to prevent any casualties from smoke inhalation or further spread of the fire.
Meanwhile, serious concerns have emerged regarding the lack of adequate fire safety arrangements in Nilapadma Apartment. Divisional Fire Officer (DFO) Satyajit Das stated that a detailed investigation will be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of the fire and to examine compliance with fire safety norms. He added that appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.
The incident has once again highlighted the importance of proper fire safety measures in residential buildings, especially in densely populated urban areas like Bhubaneswar.
