Shivamogga, July 15 -- A massive fire broke out at a paper packaging factory in Shivamogga city's Old Mandli Industrial area on Wednesday, destroying packaging material worth crores of rupees.

More than 25 personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services were deployed to the spot, and firefighting operations were underway for over an hour to bring the blaze under control.

The factory, owned by Mumbai-based businessman Zakir Hajibhai, has been operating for nearly 40 years. Large quantities of paper packaging material stored on the premises were gutted in the fire. The factory employs over 400 workers.

No casualties have been reported.

According to preliminary information, the fire may have been caused by a short circuit or welding work....