Rayagada: Property, including official documents, worth over Rs 50 lakh was gutted in a fire that broke out in two storerooms of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) here late on Friday night.

Sources said a short-circuit had caused the fire outbreak at the CRPF's 4th battalion's BQ and CQ storerooms at College Road in Rayagada town around 1am.

"Some CRPF personnel noticed heavy smoke coming out of the room a few minutes after the incident. Fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames," said Rayagada police station inspector-in-charge Rabi Patro.

The officer said it had taken nearly two hours to control the fire, and as no one was present at the time of the incident no injury or casualty was reported.

"Preliminary inquiry revealed that the fire broke out from a short-circuit. However, we will be able to ascertain the details once we complete our inquiry," he said.

Sources said the storerooms were situated on the first floor of the building and important and old files, tents, uniforms, utensils, vehicle parts and many more items of the para-military force that were kept in the storerooms were completely gutted.

"No arms have been destroyed as those are kept in a separate room. The actual amount of damage will be known after we complete our assessment," said a CRPF officer.

The battalion has been stationed in Rayagada for the past few years and is engaged in conducting anti-Maoist operations.