VILLANUR, PUDUCHERRY — A devastating, fast-spreading blaze completely gutted a cardboard manufacturing facility in Odhuambattu village near Villanur on Monday night, causing extensive damage and sending towering plumes of thick smoke into the sky.

The fire, which erupted late Monday evening, July 13, 2026 quickly swept through the facility’s storage and manufacturing blocks, fueled by the massive stockpile of highly flammable raw paper rolls and finished corrugated cardboard boxes.

Fire and Rescue Services were alerted by local residents and security staff who noticed thick smoke emanating from the factory roof. By the time the first responders arrived, the fire had already breached the main assembly floor, threatening nearby residential structures and neighboring industrial plots.

Following the outbreak of the blaze, multiple fire tenders from Villanur, Puducherry, and adjacent stations were immediately dispatched to the site. Firefighters spent nearly four hours battling the intense, wind-whipped flames, finding it difficult to penetrate the core of the fire due to the dense stacks of cardboard, which ultimately forced crews to deploy specialized foam and high-pressure water hoses.

Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure to prevent the fire from spreading along overhead power lines, electricity to Odhuambattu village and surrounding industrial zones was temporarily cut off.

Fortunately, because the fire broke out after regular operations had concluded for the day, only a minimal skeleton crew of security personnel and maintenance staff was on-site. All personnel were evacuated safely, and local authorities have confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported.

However, the material loss is estimated to be extensive. The intense heat caused portions of the factory's sheet-metal roof to buckle and collapse inward, burying heavy machinery, manufacturing raw materials, and finished goods ready for distribution under charred metal and ash.

While a formal inquiry has been launched to determine the exact origin of the blaze, initial assessments suggest a technical malfunction may be to blame. "A preliminary investigation indicates that an electrical short circuit near the main packaging block may have sparked the fire," a local fire official stated. "The flames quickly caught the surrounding cardboard inventory, making it nearly impossible to contain with standard on-site extinguishers."

The Villanur police have registered a case regarding the incident and are working alongside fire inspectors to conduct a comprehensive safety audit of the facility.