Balasore: A massive fire broke out at a cotton processing factory in Balasore district on Saturday afternoon, destroying cotton stocks worth lakhs of rupees along with valuable machinery.
According to reports, the blaze erupted at the factory located in the Haldipada area under Basta block. Thick plumes of smoke were seen billowing from the unit as the fire rapidly spread through stored cotton, making firefighting operations challenging.
Fire tenders from Basta and Rupsa were rushed to the spot and worked for several hours to bring the flames under control. Officials said the fire was eventually doused, preventing it from spreading to nearby establishments.
Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported in the incident.
While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, preliminary reports suggest that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze. Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation to determine the cause and assess the total extent of the damage.
