An early morning fire broke out at a Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch in Sundaragada town, triggering panic among local residents and business owners in the bustling commercial district.
The incident occurred around 8:00 AM at the PNB branch situated directly opposite the Sundaragada Head Post Office. Thick plumes of smoke and visible flames were spotted billowing from inside the facility shortly before regular office hours.
Upon receiving emergency calls from alerted bystanders, local fire services rushed to the scene to initiate containment operations. Firefighters faced visibility challenges inside the premises due to dense smoke accumulation while working to prevent the blaze from spreading to neighbouring structures.
Preliminary assessments indicate that several official bank documents, interior furniture, and administrative items were damaged in the blaze. Officials suspect an electrical short circuit to be the primary cause of the ignition, though a formal investigation will confirm the root cause once cooling operations conclude.
The exact monetary value of the loss and the extent of structural damage are currently being evaluated by bank authorities and emergency services. No human casualties have been reported so far. Further official updates regarding the incident and banking operational status are awaited.
