Sambalpur: A massive fire broke out at a cold storage facility at Nununiamunda near Bamra in the Kuchinda area of Odisha’s Sambalpur district on Sunday, causing extensive damage.
Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported at the facility.
According to sources, an employee reported thick plumes of smoke billowing out the cold storage premises when he went inside the premises when the motor, which he switched this morning, stopped within ten minutes and an attempt to restart it failed. The facility, which reportedly stores mahua flowers, dry chillies, mango kernels and perishable goods, was soon engulfed in flames.
Fire Service personnel from Gobindpur, Naikira and Kirmira were immediately pressed into service, with teams working to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further. While the operation to contain the fire was ongoing, a fire services official said, “Three units with six fire tenders have been deployed to douse the flames. We are facing difficulty as the water source is located at a distance.”
The owners have estimated the losses in the fire, which began at around 7.30 am, at Rs 10-15 crore . An electrical short circuit is suspected to have led to the fire.
