Bhubaneswar, Feb 26: Panic gripped the city on Thursday as a fire erupted on the ground floor of Toshali Bhawan, destroying several important documents from the Lokayukta office.

Officials said smoke was first noticed coming from the record room in the morning, by which time employees had already evacuated the building. Two fire department teams were rushed to the site, breaking windows and using water hoses to bring the blaze under control.

While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, a short circuit is suspected. Authorities confirmed that the fire was contained before it could spread further, and a detailed investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause.