Three tribal children burnt alive

Baripada, Dec 26 (UNI) Three tribal children were burnt alive in a fire in Jhumkapal village under Raruan block of Mayurbhanj district.

Police today said the children were playing near a heap of haystacks when the accident took place yesterday.

The victims were identified as Lipu(4) Anand(4) and Abhi (3) official sources said.

Although the exact cause of the fire was not known, unconfirmed reports said the dry straw heaps got ignited when the children were playing with a matchstick.

By the time the fire brigade arrived from Karanjia, theie bodies were charred.

Mayurbhanj District Collector V Kartikeya Pandian had sanctioned a sum of Rs two thousand as an ex-gratia assistance to each of the three bereaved families. The Collector said further assistance, if necessary, would be provided as per the relief code.

UNI XC-DP KK AKJ VV1752