Fire renders 300 families homeless

DHENKANAL: A major fire destroyed houses of 300 families at Kantiokateni village, 25 km far from here on Friday. A villager, Janardan Nayak said fire billowed from a house and spread to the neighbourhood in the afternoon reducing over 500 rooms to ashes. Three persons received burns in their attempt to save their belongings.District officials said though the reason behind the fire is yet to be known, the inferno has destroyed the houses of 115 families completely. Fire fighters from Kamakshyanagar, Parjang and Dhenkanal rushed to the village as the fire was alarming. After relief operation, enumeration work will begin from Saturday and house building assistance will be provided to them shortly, said ADM Babaji Charan Dash, who is monitoring the rescue and relief operation.  Dash said, “Cooked meal is being provided to the  affected families and this will continue till restoration  of normalcy.” They have  also received blankets, polythene and food materials, he added.