A factory manufacturing tea storage bags on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town was gutted in a sudden blaze on Wednesday morning.

Fire officials and the owner of the factory, Gautam Das, suspect that the blaze erupted out of an electrical short circuit. The fire services department is conducting a probe to ascertain the cause of the blaze. No injury or casualty has been reported so far.

Sources said on Wednesday morning, some residents spotted the blaze in the factory located in the Panga-Sahebbari area of Sadar block.

Three fire engines from Jalpaiguri rushed to the spot but it took time to bring the fire under control.

Gautam Das, who owns the factory, said they make bags which are used to store teas made in tea estates.

“All machines and computers have been gutted in the fire. Also, bags worth around Rs 25 lakh which were ready and were about to be dispatched have been reduced to ashes. Also, the factory building is damaged in the fire. It seems an electrical short circuit has led to the fire,” said Das. He added that in all goods worth over Rs 1 crore were damaged in the blaze.

The incident has also left around 50 workers, who used to work at the factory, jobless.

“A number of local residents used to work at the factory. They are jobless now. We hope the management takes the initiative to resume production of tea bags at the unit so that the workers can get back to their jobs,” said Mrityunjay Das, a resident.