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A major fire broke out near the Inner Ring Road area in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, destroying a large stockpile of underground drainage pipes stored in an open field and sending massive plumes of smoke across nearby localities.

According to preliminary information, the blaze erupted in a storage area where underground drainage and utility pipes had been stacked in bulk for infrastructure- works. Thick black smoke rising from the site was visible from several kilometres away, triggering panic among nearby residents and commuters passing through the busy Inner Ring Road corridor.

Fire department teams rushed to the spot soon after the incident was reported. Multiple fire tenders were deployed to contain the flames as the fire rapidly spread through the highly combustible pipe material. Officials said firefighters worked continuously to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby areas and adjoining utility infrastructure.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the fire. Initial assessments indicate that the pipes stored in the open field suffered extensive damage, resulting in significant material losses. No casualties or injuries were immediately reported at the time of filing this report.

Police personnel and local officials also reached the site to manage traffic movement and secure the surrounding area as firefighting operations continued for several hours. Eyewitnesses described seeing towering flames and heavy smoke engulfing the storage yard shortly after the fire intensified.

The incident comes amid increasing concerns over fire safety management at temporary industrial storage sites and construction material yards located near rapidly expanding urban zones. Andhra Pradesh has witnessed several fire- incidents in industrial and infrastructure-linked facilities in recent years, prompting repeated calls for stricter safety compliance and emergency preparedness.

Officials said a detailed investigation would be conducted to determine whether the fire was triggered by electrical issues, heat exposure, accidental ignition or other causes. Authorities are also expected to assess the total financial losses caused by the blaze.

The Inner Ring Road area in Guntur has emerged as a key infrastructure and development corridor in recent years, with large-scale urban expansion, logistics activity and civic utility projects taking place around the region. The fire temporarily disrupted movement in parts of the area as emergency response teams continued operations at the site.