Fire at Bbsr airport, no major loss reported

Bhubaneswar: The air travellers at Biju Patnaik airport here had a narrow escape today as the dry grass on the field adjacent to the runway caught fire which engulfed the core area of the airport.

However, fire brigade personnel managed to contain the fire before any major losses. Though the airport has its own firefighting unit, the airport authorities have requested the Fire department to ensure safety of the airstrip during summers.

"As soon as it (fire) came to our notice, we immediately took action. Our own fire brigade unit and CISF team swung into action and douse the fire," said airport director Sarad Kumar.

"As the summer is round the corner, we have to be very care full. We have apprised the collector and DG (Fire) of the matter and asked them to ensure safety during the summers," he added.

Sources said the fire broke out at the time when major flights take off and land. The grass near the runway area might have caught the fire near the boundary wall of the aerodrome, officials said.

Notably, 38 flights connect Bhubaneswar to different cities of the country every day and most of them operate during day time, according to the sources.