Bhubaneswar: It took seven fire tenders more than three hours to douse the flames, which engulfed a tyre manufacturing unit in Padajampali area of Rajgangpur in Odisha’s Sundargarh district early Sunday morning.
Despite the intensity of the blaze, authorities have confirmed that no casualties were reported, offering some relief amid the chaos.
According to sources, the blaze erupted at the facility, involved in tyre-related processes including pyrolysis and vulcanising, between 7 am and 8 am. Thick black smoke billowed high into the sky, visible across a radius of several kilometres and causing panic among workers and nearby residents. The staff at the unit immediately informed higher authorities and called for help. Initially, three Fire Services units were deployed to contain the flames, but as the situation worsened, the number was increased to seven. Specialised foam was sourced from nearby Rourkela to combat the difficult-to-extinguish rubber and tyre materials.
Senior police officials, including the IIC and SDPO of Rajgangpur, were present at the site to oversee the containment efforts. The area was cordoned off to restrict public access and ensure the safety of emergency personnel.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.