A somber atmosphere has descended upon Sanpadar village in Khurda’s Bolgarh block following a devastating overnight fire. A father and son were burnt alive after a massive blaze engulfed their combined tea and variety store while they slept inside.
The victims, who traditionally stayed overnight to guard their business, were unable to escape as the flames spread rapidly through the structure. Fire services arrived on the scene to douse the inferno, but tragically, both individuals had already succumbed to the fire.
Local police have recovered the bodies for autopsy and launched a formal investigation to determine the cause of the blaze—whether triggered by an electrical short circuit or other factors. The community remains in shock over the sudden loss of the local shopkeepers.