Cuttack: The 100-ft-high two-storey garments showroom at Badambadi that was charred on Sunday had no fire-safety equipment in place and was functioning without the fire-safety licence, preliminary probe has found.

The fire services have started investigation into the incident.

Besides, the building had not secured any approval from the Cuttack Municipal Corporation. "Criminal proceedings will be initiated against the owner," chief fire officer Sukanta Sethi said.

No one was injured in the incident that was allegedly triggered by sparks from a nearby electric transformer. The fire services personnel suspected that the incident had happened because of short circuit.

Sethi on Monday said a three-member committee, headed by him, had started its inquiry. The other two officers in the inquiry team are fire officer (central) Bhabagrahi Ghadei and assistant fire officer (prevention) Sushanta Kumar Biswal.

"Apart from ascertaining the cause of fire, the inquiry committee is looking into evaluating whether the fire-safety measures were undertaken as well as whether the fire services had issued it no-objection certificate and licence," Sethi said.

"We are looking into whether the showroom building had approval from the Cuttack Development Authority and whether the plan was adhered during construction."

The fire officials described the showroom as an enclosed space with no ventilation. There were no enclosures to make it smoke proof, they said.