Bhubaneswar: Two days after Fire Services officials resorted to a cease-work agitation pressing for fulfillment of various demands, six fire officials in the State were suspended today on charges of dereliction of duty and indiscipline behaviour.

A communiqué in this regard has been released from the Central Range Fire Officer in Cuttack.

Sources said two fire officials of Chitrada Fire Station in Mayurbhanj, two fire personnel of Daspalla in Nayagarh and two from Baliapal were suspended on charges of not responding to emergency calls in a drowning and a fire mishap incidents.

On September 24, a 3-year-old boy fell into a well at Dakoi village under Morda block in Mayurbhanj district. Though locals called up fire brigade officials, no one turned up for his rescue.

In another incident, eight houses were gutted in a fire mishap at Srirampur village under Nilagiri police limits in Balasore district on the same day. Though the villagers sought the help of fire fighting staff, the latter did not come.

It may be mentioned here that Fire Department personnel across the State launched a cease-work strike on September 24 for an indefinite period pressing for fulfillment of a six-point charter of demands, including provision of salary and pension at par with Odisha police, filling up of vacant posts and abolition of contractual appointment.