A woman died after being trapped in a fire that engulfed her house in Pipal village under Paradip Lock police station on Monday. The deceased has been identified as Rini Kumari Dalai.
According to reports, the fire first broke out in a haystack near the kitchen and quickly spread to the thatched kitchen area where Rini was cooking. By the time neighbours noticed the blaze, the kitchen had been completely gutted, and Rini was found charred to death inside.
At the time of the incident, only Rini, her young child, and her ailing father-in-law were at home. Locals said Rini had handed the child to her father-in-law and was preparing food when the fire started. Personnel from Kujang Fire Services and police reached the spot, but the kitchen and parts of the house were already destroyed.
A scientific team later visited the site and conducted an investigation in the afternoon. While the exact cause of the fire remains unclear, several questions are being raised locally: how the fire started in the haystack, and why Rini could not escape despite the blaze beginning outside the kitchen.
The incident has sparked suspicion after Rini’s father filed a written complaint at the police station alleging that his daughter was murdered by her in-laws. Following the complaint, police have intensified the probe, with the scientific team collecting evidence.
Paradip Lock police IIC Samir Kumar Rout said the full facts are expected to emerge after further investigation.
The tragedy has cast a pall of grief over the village.
