A major fire broke out in a plastic goods manufacturing unit at the Industrial Estate at Khordha on Sunday. Six fire tenders were pressed into service to tame the blaze with water being supplied to the fire tenders from the supply line of IDCO and the Kingfisher beer manufacturing unit nearby. “At least 10 fire tenders from Khordha, Bhubaneswar and Jatni were pressed into service to douse the blaze,” said Khordha Fire Officer Debendra Kumar Swain.
According to the employees of the Siva Shankar Trading ltd, which is among the largest manufacturers of disposable plastic tumblers and other disposable items in the State, fire engulfed the fourth floor of the factory while they were trying to drive away bees which had formed a hive on the outer taaza of the factory building using fire.
“It’s a big loss for us. The factory was started just eight months back. We are the largest manufacturer of disposable plastic tumblers and other disposable plastic items used in weddings and parties. The factory was built at a cost of Rs 8 crore with Rs 3 crore as promoter’s investment and Rs 5 crore as loan from banks and financial institutions,” said Akash Agarwall, son of Mira Devi of Cuttack who is the proprietor of Siva Shankar Trading ltd. The fire was controlled after considerable loss of property.