TV
A massive fire broke out at the State Bank of India’s (SBI) Lathikata branch in Rourkela on Sunday. The incident occurred at around 7:00 PM, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air and triggering an alarm among local residents.
As the bank remained shut on Sunday, no casualties have been reported. However, substantial damage to property, documents, and the strong room is feared.
Firefighters Battle Flames for Over an Hour
On being alerted, two fire tenders from the Odisha Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the spot and began operations to control the blaze. Witnesses reported that smoke and flames were visible for nearly an hour before firefighting units arrived.
Fire personnel used high-pressure hoses and cutting equipment to access the inner chambers of the bank. Several computers, essential documents, furniture, and possibly currency stored in the strong room have reportedly been damaged in the fire.
Despite a concerted effort, it took over an hour to bring the fire under control, and even then, embers continued to smoulder inside the premises.
Strong Room Affected, Currency Damage Suspected
Initial inspection revealed that the fire spread to all rooms of the branch, including the highly secure strong room. “We will open the strong room on Monday and assess the extent of damage to the currency notes stored within,” the branch manager informed reporters on the day of the incident.
Bank authorities are expected to conduct a detailed survey of the losses today.
Short Circuit Suspected, Investigation Launched
While the exact cause of the fire remains unconfirmed, a short circuit is suspected to have triggered the incident.
“We suspect it was caused due to an internal electrical fault. A full damage assessment will be conducted on Monday,” said an official on site.
