At least 30 houses were torched in a clash between two groups of people at Gandahati village in Orissa's Gajapati district sparking off tension in the area, police said.

The clash, which occurred Sunday, was a sequel to simmering discontent between two communities in the village, police said.

Superintendent of Police A N Sinha said two cases had been registered and four persons detained in connection with the incident.

Sinha, who visited the village after the clash, said the damaged houses belonged to both communities.

Efforts were on to constitute a peace committee in the area to restore normalcy by officials including the sub-collector, deputy superintendent of police, local block development officer and others.

District Collector B B Mohanty also went to the area to take stock of the situation after the clash, which followed in the wake of the alleged assault of a tractor driver about 10 days ago by some youths belonging to one community after water was splashed on one of their friends as the vehicle was passing by.

In retaliation, a youth was reportedly assaulted Sunday, which led to the clash between the two groups.

The situation in the village was 'tense but under control', the officials said. Four sections of armed police were deployed and the authorities maintaining a strict vigil on the situation.