Bolangir: Property worth crores of rupees were gutted after a massive fire broke out at a cotton factory at Kapani village under Belpana in Bolangir district on Monday.
Four fire tenders from Belpada and Patnagarh were pressed into service to douse the flames.
"Soon after getting the information, we rushed to the spot with two fire fighting vehicles. However, as the flames grew uncontrollable, two more fire tenders had to be called from Patnagarh ," informed Saib Bhuye, Fire Sub-Inspector.
Sources said, the incident occurred late on Monday night when employees of the Radharaman cotton mill were fast asleep inside the factory. The fire spread rapidly due to the cotton and engulfed the entire mill in no time. The intensity of the fire was so high that fire fighters had to keep dousing the flames till daybreak.
Although the exact reason behind the mishap is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected that electric short circuit might have triggered the fire.
"Raw cotton, cottonseed, packing materials and other mechanical equipment were stocked up inside the mill. The amount of damaged properties will sum up to more than Rs 8 crore," said owner of the cotton mill, Adarsh Agarwal.