Paradip, June 13: A major fire that swept through meadows and grassland on the premises of Paradip Phosphates Limited (PPL) caused extensive damage to vegetation.

The fire spread fast to the grassland had triggered panic. However, it was doused in the nick of time before it could swell to the fertiliser plant site.

The plant is dotted with trees. Besides, around 300 acres of grassland adds to the green environs of the plant, said a company official.

"Around 30 acres of grassland bore the brunt as the fire ravaged the grass and bushes and scrubs. An inquiry is on to ascertain the exact cause that had led to the fire outbreak on Thursday afternoon," said Sudhir Ranjan Mishra, manager (PR) of PPL.

It was quite a difficult task to control the fire. The fire fighting personnel with eight fire tenders toiled for over three hours to douse the flames. Fire tenders of the PPL, the oil refinery of Indian Oil Corporation Limited in Paradip, and other fire tenders, including one from Kujang, had rushed to the spot to douse the bushfire, said an official.

Though the reason behind the fire is yet to be established, it is suspected that someone may have thrown a lighted cigarette or bidi stub that resulted in the fire.

The dry grass could easily catch fire from cigarette stubs and matchsticks during summer. Outsiders are prohibited from entering the grassland. It is most likely that a company worker might have thrown a cigarette or bidi.

For security reasons, the plant authorities debar outsiders to cut the grass for fodder purpose within the fertiliser plant area - due to which the grass gets dry.