Sambalpur: A major fire broke out at a gutkha manufacturing unit at Majhipali under Ainthapalli police limits in Odisha’s Sambalpur district on Monday.
At least 23 people have been reported to have sustained injuries. They have been rescued and admitted to VIMSAR, Burla.
According to sources, thick black smoke was seen billowing out of the factory. Three fire tenders have been rushed to the spot to bring the fire under control.
Though the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, some employees blamed it on an explosion in the boiler machine. “Prima facie it seems a case of short circuit, though the exact reason can’t be ascertained immediately,” a fire department official said.
Since there was a lot of plastic bags in the factory, the fire spread rapidly. Around 20 ambulances reached the spot and took the injured to the hospital. Most of the victims have suffered burn injuries ranging from 20 per cent to as high as 50 per cent, the sources added.
It is being suspected that several people are still trapped inside the factory. Police and administrative officials have rushed to the incident site to take stock of the situation.
