Balasore: In the early hours of 12 March, a devastating fire broke out at the office of the Chakapalasia Seva Samabaya Samiti in Bhograi, Balasore district, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The inferno, suspected to have originated from a short circuit, quickly engulfed the premises, reducing valuables including office documents and computers to ashes.
Reports indicate that the functioning of the Seva Samabaya Samiti office had been severely disrupted in recent days due to an ongoing strike by its employees, who were advocating for their demands. As a result, the office had remained closed during this period.
It was amidst this tense atmosphere that the fire erupted, causing widespread panic among the staff and locals. Chakapalasia Seva Samabaya Samiti President Shyamsundar Rout was among the first to notice the blaze and promptly alerted fire brigade officials.
Despite the swift response from the fire brigade, the intensity of the fire had already inflicted significant damage to the office premises. Valuable items such as office documents, hard disks, and computers were consumed by the flames, exacerbating the loss incurred by the organization.
This unfortunate incident adds to the list of fire-related mishaps witnessed in Balasore in recent times. Just last year, in June 2023, a compartment of a stationary goods train caught fire at Rupsa railway station. However, due to the timely intervention of fire brigade personnel, a potential disaster was averted, and the fire was brought under control.
