A significant fire broke out at a medicine warehouse located near Symphony Mall in the Rudrapur area of Bhubaneswar. Reports indicate that pharmaceuticals valued at several lakhs of rupees were destroyed in the blaze. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries resulting from this incident.
Upon receiving alerts about the fire, firefighters promptly arrived at the scene to combat the flames and control the situation. However, the heavy smoke billowing from the warehouse made it challenging for them to extinguish the fire effectively.
Initial assessments suggest that the fire caused extensive damage, turning a large stock of medical supplies into ashes. The incident came to light when residents noticed thick smoke rising from the warehouse and notified emergency services. The massive fire drew a considerable crowd, leading to traffic disruptions in the surrounding area.
Currently, the cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Authorities are actively investigating the incident and further updates are anticipated as more information becomes available.
In a related incident, a major fire occurred at the Odisha State Medical Corporation (OSMC) godown in Mancheswar Industrial Estate, resulting in the destruction of medicines and medical equipment worth lakhs of rupees. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as this fire broke out late on Sunday night. Preliminary investigations suggest that an electrical short circuit may have caused this fire.
The Health and Family Welfare Department confirmed via Twitter that an accidental fire occurred at Mancheswar MARKFED Godown number 3 late on July 9, 2023, where some OSMCL supplies, including PPE kits and sanitizers, were stored. All goods were reported to be covered by insurance.
The fire was managed thanks to the quick response from police and fire services. Seven fire tenders and over 50 personnel worked throughout the night to control the flames. Firefighters had to break through walls to access certain areas and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
Witnesses reported not only thick smoke but also loud blasts caused by empty gas cylinders stored in the godown. Fortunately, emergency services managed to bring the situation under control by morning.
