Sonepur: A massive fire broke out at an ethanol factory in Sonepur district of Odisha, destroying large portions of the industrial unit and causing extensive property damage.
Sources said the blaze erupted at Mash Bio-Fuels Private Limited at Panimura under Tarbha block on Wednesday night, quickly spreading through the plant before firefighters managed to bring it under control.
No one was reported to have been hurt in the fire. Officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, while the district administration has assured that a detailed inquiry will be conducted.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing flames engulfing the premises around midnight. The fire spread rapidly, consuming machinery, storage units, and other infrastructure. Local residents first noticed the blaze and immediately alerted authorities. Fire personnel rushed to the site and worked through the night to douse the flames. Their efforts prevented the fire from spreading to nearby areas, averting a larger disaster. Despite their intervention, the intensity of the blaze left little scope to salvage equipment.
The scale of destruction has raised concerns about safety measures at industrial units handling highly flammable substances. The incident has left the community shaken, as the factory was a significant industrial unit in the region.
