Udhagamandalam:
About Rs 40 lakh worth equipment and tea powder were gutted in a fire in state owned Indcoserve tea factory at Pandalur, about 80 km from Udhagamandalam early this morning but there were no casualties, police said.
Workers in the night shift noticed the fire around 5.30 AM and tried to douse it but it spread, destroying two blowers, the platform and 3,000 Kg of tea powder, they said.
All the workers rushed out to safety.
Fire service tenders from Gudalur rushed to the spot and doused the flames after a three hour effort.