Berhampur: A fire broke out at a soft drink manufacturing unit at Kodala in Ganjam district on Wednesday morning, causing extensive damage to machinery and raw materials. The fire was discovered when locals noticed smoke emanating from the facility and alerted the owner, Ajit Kumar Sahu. No casualties were reported as the unit was empty at the time of the incident.
Fire services personnel from Kodala station took several hours to bring the flames under control. “While the exact cause is yet to be determined, preliminary investigation suggests an electrical short-circuit might have triggered the fire,” a fire department official said.
The incident has dealt a severe blow to the unit’s operations, particularly as it had recently installed new machinery and stocked up on raw materials, including bottles, in preparation for the upcoming summer season.
“The owner has filed a formal complaint regarding the incident,” Subash Behera, inspector in-charge of Kodala police station, said. A detailed investigation is underway to assess the cause of the fire and extent of the damage.