A massive fire broke out at an electric vehicle (EV) showroom in Dargadahi, Baripada, late Friday night, destroying nearly ₹50 lakh worth of battery-operated scooters, an autorickshaw and other equipment. Firefighters used three engines to control the blaze, which is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit.
A major fire gutted an electric vehicle showroom in Dargadahi, Baripada, leading to extensive damage estimated at around ₹50 lakh. The blaze was first noticed around 2:30 am when passersby spotted smoke emerging from under the shutter and alerted the Fire Department. Firefighters broke open the shutter to find the showroom completely engulfed in flames.
Nearly 10 EV scooters, a battery-operated autorickshaw and several lithium battery units were destroyed. The intensity of the fire caused cracks in the showroom walls, highlighting the severity of the incident. Three fire tenders were deployed to bring the situation under control and prevent the flames from spreading to adjacent buildings.
Preliminary suspicion points to a short circuit as the likely cause, though officials have not confirmed the exact reason. The showroom owner, upon arriving at the scene, stated that property worth around ₹50 lakh had been lost. No injuries were reported, and further investigation is underway.
