Personnel count and separate arms and ammunition at Brahmanitarang police station in Rourkela. Picture by Uttam Kumar Pal

Rourkela, Feb. 5: Arms and ammunition kept in a barrack here were destroyed in a fire that broke out on the Brahmanitarang police station campus in the city this morning.

However, there was no casualty, as the jawans staying there were not present. It took two fire tenders around 40 minutes to extinguish the fire and controlled the explosion of ammunitions.

The exact damage to the property is yet to be ascertained. Sources said that around 8am, the Odisha State Armed Police jawans were out of their barrack for roll calling when the mishap occurred. The barrack houses one platoon of 30 jawans. The beds of jawans had caught fire and spread fast. The ammunition kept in their possession started bursting.

Upendra Pradhan, inspector in charge of Brahmanitarang police station, said that after the police personnel noticed the smoke and heard sounds, they informed the fire brigade. Fire tenders from Panposh and Rourkela rushed to the spot and dowsed the fire.

T.K. Babu, assistant fire officer of Rourkela fire station said the fire was caused due to an electric short-circuit. “An extension cord caught fire after short-circuit and it spread to the beds. However, the fire was controlled within a short period and not much damage could take place,” said Babu. He, however, said the damage had not yet been assessed.

Sources said the extension cord was used for mobile charging and the jawans had not unplugged it before going out. Pradhan said the extent of damage could not be assessed, as the personnel were busy recovering the items after the fire was doused. “Only some ammunition, bedding and other belongings of the jawans were damaged and their cost was being calculated,” said the inspector.

He said the incident was an accident and they were inquiring into it.