Fire in Odisha secretariat

Official files, computers and furniture were destroyed in a fire that broke out this morning at the Panchayati Raj department in Odisha secretariat here, police said.

The fire was detected by employees and fire brigade personnel soon brought the blaze under control. But by then, several files and office urniture had already been burnt.

"Only one room, occupied by the private secretary has been affected by the fire. The fire broke out suspectedly due to short circuit," panchayati raj department secretary D R Singh said.

Panchayati Raj minister Arun Kumar Sahoo, who rushed to the spot said he had asked the secretary to conduct an inquiry into the incident.