Lekhnath, April 14 :

Damage worth Rs 50 million has been incurred when fire broke out at Gandaki Oil Mill here on Thursday. The mill has been completely destroyed in the inferno.

The fire was finally put out at 1 pm today. The only fire brigade at Pokhara Sub Metropolis, with help from locals, had battled to put out the fire all through last night. However, no human casualty has been suffered due to the fire.

The fire had started at around 5:15 pm yesterday.

The oil-packaging machine, raw mustard and refined oil have been destroyed in the fire, mill owner Govinda Karmacharya said. He added that it would take three to four more days to assess the total damaged caused in the fire. He also said that according to preliminary estimates, damage worth Rs 50 million has been incurred.

According to a company source, around 17,000 litres of refined oil and 700 litres of packaged oil has been destroyed in the inferno.

The oil was being stored in the mill and could not be taken to the market due to the ongoing general strike called by seven-party alliance.

There was only one security guard at the mill when the fire broke out. The cause of the fire could not be known immediately.

The mill produces one of the leading brands of mustard oil in the market named ‘Koseli’ oil.

The delay in the arrival of fire brigade was also due to the on-going agitation by the seven-parties.

The oil mill was established around a decade ago. National General Insurance Company provides insurance cover for the mill.