Daijiworld Media Network – Bhubaneshwar

Bhubaneswar, May 6: Three persons, including a 10-year-old girl, lost their lives in a major fire that broke out at a residential building in Bhubaneswar early Wednesday morning, police said.

The blaze erupted around 4 am on the ground floor of Basanti Villa Apartment in the Laxmisagar area, a senior officer said.

Two elderly persons, identified as Biswajit Behera (70) and Sulata Behera (65), died on the spot after getting trapped inside the building. A young girl, Tejeswani Behera (10), later succumbed to burn injuries at Capital Hospital.

Nearly 30 residents were safely evacuated from the apartment complex, while fire brigade personnel managed to bring the flames under control.

Police said Biswajit Behera was working as the security guard of the building.

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. However, preliminary findings suggest a possible short circuit in the electrical panel board near the parking area on the ground floor, fire brigade officer Ramesh Chandra Sethi said.

Further investigation is underway.