Bhubaneswar, Nov. 9 -- Two thatched houses were gutted in fire incidents in Odisha on Sunday during Diwali celebration, with firecracker sparks suspected to have triggered both blazes. Property worth lakhs of rupees was destroyed in one of the incidents.

In the first incident, a two-room thatched house belonging to Narayan Nayak in Demal village under Aul police station limits in Kendrapara district was completely gutted late at Sunday night. His family members were asleep when neighbours noticed the house on fire and raised an alarm.

The flames engulfed the entire house, reducing it to ashes. All household belongings kept inside were also destroyed, causing losses worth lakhs of rupees.

Narayan Nayak, the complainant, said, "Around 1 ...