Fire breaks out at Union Bank Branch in Jharsuguda; documents damaged

A fire broke out early this morning inside the Union Bank branch located on Sarabahal Road in Jharsuguda district, triggering panic among locals. The fire, though brought under control swiftly, led to damage of important documents and office files kept inside the premises.

According to reports, smoke was first noticed billowing out from the bank building by local residents around morning hours on Sunday. They immediately alerted the fire department. A fire tender rushed to the spot and the fire brigade personnel managed to douse the flames before they could spread further.

What Triggered The Fire?

Initial observations suggest that the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit. It has come to light that the air conditioner (AC) unit inside the bank was left running the previous evening, and the power supply was not disconnected even after the bank was closed. This has raised strong suspicion that the fire originated from an electrical fault, possibly due to the running AC system.

Though the flames were controlled in time and no major structural damage occurred, several paper files and important documents stored inside the office were partially or completely destroyed in the blaze. Fortunately, there were no injuries or casualties reported, as the bank was closed at the time of the incident.

Bank officials have begun assessing the extent of the loss, especially with regard to records and paperwork. 

Further investigation is underway to confirm the exact cause of the fire. Authorities are also considering issuing a directive to ensure proper shutdown procedures, including power disconnection, are followed in all banking and commercial institutions to prevent such incidents in the future.

The incident has created a sense of urgency around fire safety and electrical checks in public institutions, especially as the summer heat continues to increase the risk of short circuits and electrical fires.