Bhubaneswar: A major fire broke out at the SBI Lathikata branch near Odisha’s Rourkela city today.

The fire broke out at around 7 pm. Several computers, important documents and furniture of the bank were gutted in the inferno.

On being informed, the Fire Brigade personnel along with two fire engines rushed to the spot. They took around two hours to douse the flames, reports said.

Preliminary enquiry revealed that the fire has caused damage to the strong room of the bank. “We will open the strong room tomorrow and assess the damage to the currency notes stored at the facility,” said the bank manager.

As per reports, some locals spotted smokes coming out of the bank in the evening and raised an alarm. The fire immediately spread to all rooms of the bank.  

It is suspected that the mishap was caused due to a short-circuit. “We will assess the damage caused to the properties of the bank tomorrow,” said an official.