Kendrapada: A 25-year-old woman was burnt alive as a major fire swept through Pipal village under Paradip Lock police station in Jagatsinghpur district on Tuesday afternoon, gutting three thatched houses.The deceased has been identified as Rini Kumari Swain, who was alone in the house and was taking a nap when the fire broke out. She had married Smruti Ranjan Swain of Pipal village about one-and-a-half years ago. Police said her husband and mother-in-law were not at home at the time of incident.Eyewitnesses said the blaze spread rapidly, leaving villagers helpless. “The intensity of the fire was so huge that we could only watch as the houses were engulfed in flames,” said Jagannath Swain, a local resident.The fire reportedly originated in one corner of a house and spread swiftly, destroying everything in its path. While the exact cause is yet to be ascertained, fire personnel suspect that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze.Officials said property worth around Rs 2 lakh was destroyed in the fire. Household items, including chairs, tables, brass and aluminium utensils and other valuables were reduced to ashes.Many govt officials rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. Fire brigade personnel later brought the blaze under control. Police recovered the charred body of the woman and sent it to the district headquarters hospital in Jagatsinghpur for autopsy. “The exact cause of death will be known after the postmortem report. An investigation is underway,” said IIC, Paradip Lock police station, Rashmi Ranjan Das.
