Nuapada: A young couple died of suffocation after a fire broke out in their house at Tukla village under Khariar block in Nuapada district on Monday evening.
The deceased were identified as Rajesh Patel (30) and his wife, Rima Patel (25).
According to reports, the couple sustained critical injuries after flames engulfed their residence. Locals rushed them to the Khariar Community Health Centre (CHC) in a private vehicle, where doctors declared them brought dead.
Preliminary reports said the couple lived with Rajesh’s parents and their six-month-old son. The family ran a food stall near Tukla bus stand and also sold petrol.
On the fateful evening, while packing cinnamon nuts, petrol stored in the house—estimated to be more than 20 litres—allegedly caught fire, triggering a massive blaze.
The couple was trapped inside the house and died of suffocation.
In a last attempt to save their child, they threw their infant son out of the window. The baby and Rajesh’s parents escaped unhurt.
