Cuttack house fire kills 7-year-old boy, grandfather critical on Diwali night
Synopsis
A seven-year-old boy suffocated to death and his grandfather was critically injured when a suspected Diwali-lights short circuit triggered a fire in a Cuttack residential building, with exploding gas cylinders making the blaze worse. The tragedy was one of dozens of fire and firecracker incidents across Odisha on Diwali night — over 50 burn injuries in Bhubaneswar alone and a second child death in Rourkela underscoring the human cost of the celebrations.
Key Takeaways
Biraj Bajuria , aged 7 , died due to suffocation in a house fire in Cuttack's Dargha Bazar area on 9 November 2026 .
His elderly grandfather sustained critical injuries and is under treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital .
A short circuit in Diwali decorative lights is suspected; the blaze was worsened by the explosion of three LPG cylinders .
Three fire station teams from Cuttack, Chouliaganj, and Bidanasi jointly brought the fire under control and rescued three persons .
More than 50 people suffered burn injuries in Bhubaneswar alone on Diwali night; a 14-year-old, Chinmay Sahu , also died in a firecracker blast in Rourkela .
A seven-year-old boy died and his elderly grandfather was left in critical condition after a fire broke out in a three-storey building in the Dargha Bazar police station area of Cuttack city in Odisha in the early hours of Monday, 9 November, officials confirmed. The deceased child was identified as Biraj Bajuria, a resident of Hathipokhari, near the Netaji Subhash Bose birthplace, under Dargha Bazar police limits.
How the Fire Broke Out
According to a bereaved family member, all residents of the household were asleep when the incident occurred. 'All the family members were sleeping, while I was alone engaged in sweeping the rooftop when the incident took place early this morning due to a short circuit. My grandson is no more,' the family member told reporters.
Although the exact cause is yet to be officially determined, a short circuit in decorative Diwali lights is suspected to have triggered the blaze. The fire escalated rapidly after three cooking gas cylinders stored inside the house exploded, intensifying the flames on the second floor of the building.
Rescue Operation and Fire Services Response
Fire services personnel were alerted and immediately rushed to the site with fire tenders. Three teams drawn from the Cuttack, Chouliaganj, and Bidanasi Fire Stations jointly conducted the firefighting operation and fully extinguished the blaze.
'A total of three persons were successfully rescued from the fire and shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital for treatment,' the fire services department said in a statement. Biraj Bajuria was declared dead at the SCB Medical facility, reportedly due to suffocation. His grandfather remains in a critical state, according to hospital sources.
Diwali Fire Incidents Across Odisha
The tragedy in Cuttack was part of a wider pattern of fire and firecracker-related incidents that swept across Odisha on Sunday night during Diwali celebrations. More than 50 people reportedly sustained burn injuries in Bhubaneswar alone on Sunday night.
Separately, a 14-year-old student, identified as Chinmay Sahu, died after a firecracker explosion in the Raghunathpalli police station area in Rourkela, Sundargarh district, late on Sunday night. Fire-related incidents ranging from minor to serious injuries were also reported from various other parts of the state during the festive period.
What Happens Next
Authorities have not yet issued a formal cause of the Cuttack fire pending investigation. The incident is likely to renew calls for stricter safety guidelines around the use of electrical decorative lighting and the storage of LPG cylinders in residential buildings during festive seasons. The condition of the grandfather and other hospitalised individuals is being monitored at SCB Medical College and Hospital.
Point of View
Preventable pattern. Decorative electrical lighting strung across poorly wired old buildings, combined with LPG cylinders stored in living spaces, is a known hazard that authorities have failed to regulate ahead of the festive season year after year. The focus tends to fall on firecracker bans, while the quieter danger of electrical overloads and improper gas storage goes unaddressed. Until pre-Diwali safety inspections become mandatory in densely populated urban wards — and are actually enforced — these incidents will continue to repeat with grim regularity.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who died in the Cuttack house fire on 9 November 2026?
Seven-year-old Biraj Bajuria, a resident of Hathipokhari in Cuttack, died due to suffocation in the fire. His elderly grandfather sustained critical injuries and was hospitalised at SCB Medical College and Hospital.
What caused the fire in Cuttack's Dargha Bazar area?
The exact cause is under investigation, but a short circuit in decorative lights installed for Diwali is suspected to have started the blaze. The fire intensified after three cooking gas cylinders inside the house exploded.
How did fire services respond to the Cuttack incident?
Three teams from the Cuttack, Chouliaganj, and Bidanasi Fire Stations responded jointly, rescued three persons from the burning building, and fully extinguished the blaze. The rescued individuals were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital.
Were there other fire incidents in Odisha on Diwali night?
Yes. More than 50 people sustained burn injuries in Bhubaneswar alone on Sunday night. A 14-year-old student, Chinmay Sahu, also died after a firecracker explosion in the Raghunathpalli area of Rourkela in Sundargarh district.
Where are the injured being treated?
The fire victims from the Cuttack incident, including Biraj Bajuria's grandfather, were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. The grandfather's condition is reported to be critical.
