Berhampur, August 29: A massive fire broke out at a Toyota car showroom in Haldipada, on the outskirts of Berhampur, Odisha, destroying several vehicles and causing extensive property damage.

The intensity of the blaze was so high that firefighters initially found it difficult to enter the showroom and tackle the fire from inside. Several cars parked on the premises were completely gutted, with losses estimated to run into crores of rupees.

After receiving information about the incident, fire and emergency services rushed to the spot. As many as 14 fire tenders and around 70 firefighters were deployed to bring the blaze under control.

Firefighters battled the flames for nearly three and a half hours before finally managing to contain the situation.

Due to the extreme heat and intensity of the fire inside the showroom, personnel could not directly enter the building. A specialised firefighting robot was subsequently deployed to assist in the operation. The robot was used to spray water and tackle the flames from inside, helping the fire services bring the blaze under control.

The exact cause of the fire and the extent of the financial losses are yet to be ascertained. An investigation is currently underway to determine how the fire started and assess the total damage.