Fire Mishap / Mobile Phone on Charge Explodes, House Reduced to Ashes While Kalahandi Family Slept

Bhubaneswar/Junagad, Aug 3: Two separate fire incidents were reported from Odisha, with a house in Kalahandi district gutted after an alleged mobile phone explosion and a massive blaze breaking out at a cotton factory on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

While no casualties have been reported in either incident, both fires caused extensive damage to property.

Mobile Phone Explosion Suspected Behind Kalahandi House Fire
A house was damaged in a late-night fire at Kandhabrahmaniguda village under Kendupati gram panchayat in Junagad block of Kalahandi district.

According to the family, Bikram Jani (35) had plugged his mobile phone in for charging before all family members went to sleep around midnight on Sunday. At around 3am, the phone allegedly exploded, triggering a fire in one part of the house.

The family woke up after noticing the flames and managed to escape safely. With the help of neighbours, the fire was brought under control using a water pump.

Household articles, clothes, rice and other essential belongings were destroyed in the blaze.

Following the incident, local Revenue Inspector Uttam Kumar Majhi visited the spot and assessed the damage. He advised the affected family to collect tarpaulin sheets and other relief materials from the revenue office to cope with the ongoing rainy season.

Local Sarpanch Chinmayee Sethi said the family would be considered for priority assistance if its name is included in the government housing scheme beneficiary list.

Also Read: Nine Dead, Several Trapped as Four-Storey Building Collapses in Bhiwandi

Major Fire At Cotton Factory In Bhubaneswar
In a separate incident, a massive fire broke out at a cotton factory near Medicine Garden in Patrapada on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

Thick flames and smoke engulfed the factory as firefighters launched an operation to contain the blaze.

Tamando police and Fire Service personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information. Initially, two fire tenders from the Tamando Fire Station and a specialised striking force were pressed into service, a source informed.

As the fire intensified, an additional fire tender was rushed from Jatni to assist in the firefighting operation, the source added.

Explosion Fears Trigger Panic
Locals expressed concern as several diesel generator (DG) sets are reportedly installed around the factory premises, raising fears of possible explosions.

Firefighters continued efforts to bring the blaze under control. The exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are yet to be officially determined.