Bhubaneswar: A major fire broke out at a Ganesh Puja pandal in the Deheripali area under Ainthapali police station in Odisha’s Sambalpur city on Monday evening.

The incident took place at around 8.20 pm at the Ganesh Puja pandal set up by the Deheripali Puja Committee. The committee had organised the festival on a grand scale, spending a considerable amount of money on the decorations and celebrations.

The puja rituals had concluded in the afternoon. However, at around 8.20 pm, committee members noticed flames coming from the pandal and immediately informed the Fire Services Department.

A fire tender rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. However, by the time firefighters arrived, the main pandal had already been severely damaged and reduced to ashes.

Sambalpur Fire Officer Sudam Kishko said the fire service received the call at around 8.25 pm and immediately reached the spot. According to him, the pandal had been constructed using an iron framework and decorated with polyester cloth and other materials, which caused the fire to spread rapidly.

The flames quickly engulfed the main structure, destroying the pandal and the Ganesh idol.

A preliminary assessment suggests that the fire may have been caused by a burning lamp or an electrical short circuit. However, the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, and no other property damage was reported apart from the puja pandal.