BIRGUNJ: A massive fire broke out in an industry in Birgunj Metropolitan City-21 of Parsa district in the wee hours today.

Sushil Vanaspati Udhyog Pvt Ltd based in Lipanibirta caught fire at 3:00 am today, staffers at the industry said, and pointed towards electric short-circuit as the cause of the blaze.

Firefighter Buni Lal Chaurasiya of Birgunj Metropolis said that the effort was ongoing to take the fire under control. Meanwhile, the security personnel including that of Nepal Army, Armed Police Force of Nepal, and Nepal Police with the help of fire engines belonging to Pokhariya, Kalaiya, Jitpur, Simara Airport and Amlekhgunj-based Nepal Oil Corporation are putting efforts to douse the fire, Chaurasiya informed.

It has been reported that various plants and manufactured products — ghee, oil and wheat flour — present in the industry turned into cinders.

Chaurasiya said that the walls of the industry were broken in order to take control of the blaze.

Industrialist and president of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce Pradeep Kedia said the loss -- incurred by the industry that had been manufacturing "Rajhansa" brand ghee, cooking oil and processing wheat flours among other products -- is yet to be ascertained.