KENDRAPARA: At least 18 thatched houses were reduced to ashes after a major fire broke out at Sankhapada village in Mahakalapada block of the district on Sunday night. Property worth `50 lakh got destroyed in the fire.
The fire started in a house in the village and spread to other houses in the neighbourhood. Fire fighters from Kiarabanka rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after an hour.
The people were seen trying to salvage their belongings from the ashes on Monday as district officials visited the spot.
Chairperson of Mahakalapada Panchayat Samiti Sarojini Sethi, Block Development Officer, Tehsildar and other senior officials visited the village on Monday.
Collector Debraj Senapati said the district administration will provide houses to all the affected persons under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY).