BHUBANESWAR: A massive fire broke out early Wednesday morning in a four‑storey apartment on Badagada Canal Road in the Laxmisagar police limits here, claiming the lives of an elderly couple and their 10‑year‑old granddaughter.The victims were identified as Biswajit Behera (70), his wife Sulabha Behera (65), and their granddaughter Tejeswari Behera (10). “Biswajit, who worked as the building’s security guard and caretaker, lived with his family in a single basement room,” said a police officer.According to officials, the blaze originated around 4 a.m. from an electrical panel near the basement and quickly spread to their quarters while the family was asleep.Firefighters rushed to the spot, extinguished the flames, and prevented the fire from reaching the upper floors.Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das, who visited the site, noted that the apartment lacked basic fire safety measures and did not have a registered housing society. The building comprises 12 flats in the four floors.
