Massive fire guts warehouse in Balasore, property worth lakhs destroyed

A massive fire broke out at a warehouse near Fakir Mohan Golai in Balasore late on Thursday night, destroying goods worth lakhs of rupees. The warehouse is located behind the Balasore Bhadrak Central Cooperative Bank, officials said.

According to sources, the matter came to the fore after railway workers present in the area first heard loud sound similar to bursting firecrackers. Soon after, thick smoke was seen billowing out of the warehouse. The workers immediately alerted the fire services.

Fire tenders rushed to the spot and launched firefighting operations. After sustained efforts, the fire was brought under control, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings. However, by the time the flames were doused, most of the items stored inside the warehouse had been reduced to ashes.

The warehouse reportedly stored household construction materials, including door and window fittings, adhesives, pipes, and other related items. All the materials were completely destroyed in the blaze, resulting in heavy financial losses estimated to be worth several lakhs of rupees.

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Preliminary suspicion points towards a possible short circuit, though officials said a detailed investigation will be conducted to determine the reason behind the incident.

Also Read: Over 20 lives lost: Was Berhampur’s overbridge built for public safety or private profit and at what cost?

Local residents have expressed concern over the incident and demanded improved fire safety measures in commercial storage areas.