Balasore: Property worth over lakhs of rupees were reduced to ashes following a major fire at the Paris Bakery shop in Balasore town on Thursday early morning.
Eyewitnesses said at about 4.30 am some locals during morning walk noticed fire billowing out of the shop and informed the fire brigade and the Paris Bakery staff.
Two fire tenders rushed to the spot and doused the fire after an hour-long effort.
However, all property inside the shop was gutted.
Though the exact cause of the fire was not immediately known, some bakery staff said electrical short-circuit could be the reason.
Sources said the shop had not adopted adequate fire safety measures.
Some locals, however, suspected the shop might have been deliberately set on fire as it was incurring heavy loss.