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Fire accidents show no sign of decline

Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: No matter how fast concrete structures are replacing traditional thatched houses when it comes to incidents of fire in Orissa villages, the tragedy shows no sign of decline.

An Utkal University study titled `Orissa State Natural Hazard Risk and Vulnerable Assessment', which was presented at a collectors' conference in Sambalpur recently, said the State witnessed 26,314 fire accidents during a five-year period between 2001-2002 and 2005-2006. Except one year, the number of fire incidents were increasing.

In 2005-06, 6,427 fire incidents were reported from all over the State whereas the cases fire accidents recorded during 2001-02 was 3,802. During three middle years, such accidents, call it man-made or accidental, touched 5,000-mark constantly.

Fire accidents engulfed 5,013 villages in 2005-06 compared to 4,407 in 2001-02. On an average, 4,500 villages of the State were affected in fire accidents during the first five years of the new millennium. An average of 10,000 families are being made victim every year.

As many as 13,228 families were affected due to fire incidents in 2005-06 while 42,636 families lost their property during the four preceding years.

As many as 66 villagers lost their lives in fire accidents. The number was 26 during 2005-06. Property worth Rs. 73 crores was destroyed during the five-year period. The study prepared by the Geography Department said population exposed to the disasters maintained critical level all these years. "Our analysis points out that even though there is greater awareness among people, fire incidents continue to play havoc," said G. K Panda, principal investigator of the study.

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