Major fire at biscuit factory, no casualty

A major fire broke out at a biscuit factory at Patia here in the early hours today and 100 fire department personnel are fighting to douse it.
The factory has been severely damaged and the entire area is enveloped in dark smoke but there is no report of casualty, the police said.
At least 12 fire engines have been deployed, Khurda district sub-collector Manas Samal said.
A NDRF team has also been engaged in the fire fighting at the biscuit factory which produces leading brands like ParleG.
Ramesh Chandra Majhi, a fire department officer supervising the dousing at Lingaraj biscuit factory said biscuits worth lakhs of rupees were gutted. The stocks had piled up in the factory as the management was waiting to know the GST rate to be printed on the biscuit packets.

He said said the blaze at the factory spread very fast due to the presence of biscuits and other inflammable items such as plastic.

An earthmoving machine had to be used to clear the huge stock if damaged biscuits, he added.
An NDRF official said a smoke ventilator machine to remove the smoke and its personnel are ready to enter the factory and rescue if anyone is trapped inside it.
Officials of the directorate of factories and boilers also arrived at the spot to investigate the matter.
Deputy director of the directorate Malaya Pradhan said "An investigation will be carried out to find out the cause behind the blaze at the factory."

The factory will not be allowed to operate till investigation is completed, he added.
No factory official was immediately available for comment.