Berhampur, Apr 13: A massive fire broke out in a plastic warehouse in Bada Bazar police station area in Berhampur town of Odisha’s Ganjam district this morning, reducing goods worth around Rs 4 lakh to ashes.
The warehouse located in Bachubari Sahi under Big Bazaar police limits, owned by one named Sudarshan Sahu, was filled with plastic trays used for storing and carrying fruits.
According to eyewitnesses, thick smoke was seen coming out of the house around 3:30 AM by passersby, and within moments, the fire spread rapidly.
Locals gathered at the spot and first tried to contact the fire department by dialing 101. As there was no immediate response, they informed fire personnel stationed in nearby Deshibehera Sahi.
Soon, two teams arrived at the scene and began efforts to douse the flames. The house was locked from outside, due to which the fire personnel had to break the lock to enter and extinguish the flames. It took about one and a half hours to bring the fire under control.
Fortunately, a major disaster was averted as the fire did not spread to nearby warehouses in the area, where the ongoing Maa Budhi Thakurani Jatra is being celebrated.
The warehouse was completely gutted, and all items inside were reduced to ashes.
Though the exact reason behind the blaze is yet to be ascertained, a preliminary investigation suggests that the fire might have started due to a short circuit.
However, owner Sudarshan Sahu denied the possibility of an electrical fault and stated that the power supply to the house had been disconnected for over 10 years.
He suspected that a group of young men, who are often seen smoking and taking drugs near the veranda in recent months, may have caused the fire. He believed they might have thrown a burning cigarette or matchstick, which led to the blaze.
