Bhubaneswar, June 10 -- A forest fire that reportedly started late on Tuesday night continued to burn near Odisha's Malkangiri town on Wednesday, raising concerns among residents and commuters. Locals alleged that despite the blaze raging for hours, no forest officials were seen at the spot, even though the Forest Department office is located barely 3 to 4 km away.

The fire broke out in a forest patch near the Malkangiri sadar area and continued to spread through dry vegetation till Wednesday. Flames and thick smoke were visible from the roadside, with large stretches of forest affected by the blaze.

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be known, though locals suspect miscreants may have set the forest ablaze.

Residents alleged that t...