In Bhubaneswar, a couple and their 10-year-old granddaughter reportedly succumbed to suffocation after a fire erupted in their apartment during the early hours of Wednesday. The deceased have been identified as Biswanath Behera (65), his wife Sulabha Behera (55), and their granddaughter Tejaswini (10).

According to the Odisha Fire and Emergency Service, the fire ignited on the ground floor of Basanti Villa Apartment located on Badagada Canal Road within the Laxmisagar police jurisdiction. Investigations indicate that Biswanath, who worked as the caretaker of the apartment, resided on the ground floor.

It is believed that a short circuit in the building’s main switch, situated outside his room, initiated the fire and smoke. Fire officials reported that the couple suffered burn injuries while trying to extinguish the flames and were later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Their granddaughter was taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where she passed away a few hours later while receiving treatment. “Prima facie it appears the couple died due to suffocation as the area was engulfed with smoke. Further investigation is underway,” stated Shyamsundar Sundar Rao, IIC of Laxmisagar police station.