Bhubaneswar, Dec. 20 -- At least five acres of harvested paddy were destroyed in a fire after an 11 kV overhead power line snapped at Talapada village under Remuna block in Balasore district. The incident occurred late on Friday night when paddy harvested earlier in the day had been kept stacked in agricultural fields for drying and storage.

According to sources, the snapped high-tension electric wire fell directly onto the harvested crop, triggering a blaze that spread rapidly across the field. Large portions of the stacked paddy had already been reduced to ashes by the time villagers noticed the fire.

As per reports, five farmers identified as Pitambar Barik, Sushant Dash, Shambhunath Barik, Jadunath Mallik, and another cultivator fro...