A child cries as she waits with her family outside the Malisahi slum where fire broke out on Friday evening. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, March 8: At least 200 houses were gutted in a fire that broke out at Masjid Colony near Malisahi in Kharavela Nagar this evening. Though no injury or casualty was reported, local residents said around three children were missing.

Fire officials said more than 12 fire tenders were deployed to douse the fire that was spreading in the slum where scrap dealers and rag-pickers had deposited scrap and litter. The fire occurred a stone’s throw away from The Telegraph office around 7pm.

As the houses were located in narrow lanes in the slum and inflammable materials surrounded the huts, the hosepipes of the fire brigade vehicles could not get to the fire and it spread rapidly.

“We have deployed all our vehicles and have been trying to extinguish the fire. As cooking gas cylinders burst, it made our work difficult,” said fire officer Ramesh Chandra Majhi.

Local residents said the fire broke out in the evening. Although no one could say what caused the fire, some said it might have been a short circuit. “Tangled wires hang close to the huts and scrap heaps. We fear a short circuit caused the fire. Bursting gas cylinders spread it across the slum,” said Shiekh Arbaz, a resident.

More than 700 families consisting over 4,000 people stay at Malisahi slum.

Local councillor Guru Charan Sahoo, said the area was prone to fires. “We are trying to evict the local residents and douse the flames so that the nearby areas are spared,” said Sahoo.

Fire officer Majhi said they had not received any casualty report.

“After the fire is extinguished, we will assess the loss and investigate the cause of the fire,” said the officer.

Mayor A.N. Jena said the victims would be allowed to stay in the nearby government night shelter and the corporation would provide them food. “We will assess their losses and provide them with polythene sheets to make makeshift shelters,” said Jena.