Jharsuguda: A major fire broke out in a small forest close to Veer Surendra Sai Airport Monday morning, triggering panic in the area, even as it took around two hours for the firefighters to extinguish the raging blaze.
According to officials, the fire was first noticed around 11 am in bushes and dry vegetation located in front of the airport boundary.
Fanned by dry conditions, the flames gradually assumed a severe proportion, raising concerns over its proximity to sensitive installations like the airport and an Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) depot.
Considering the potential risk, Jharsuguda tehsildar Sadakar Kumbhar reached the spot to take stock of the situation.
A total of five fire tenders were pressed into service — two from the state Fire Services department, one from the airport authority and two from Vedanta Limited.
Their coordinated efforts helped douse the flames.
Kumbhar stated that while the cause of the fire remains unclear, such incidents often result from a lack of public awareness.
He noted that had the fire not been contained in time, it could have posed a major threat to the airport and nearby installations, including the IOCL facility.