While the Raopura police is still ascertaining the cause of the fire as well as the damage caused, office-holders of the Vadodara District Khadi Gramodyog Sangh attributed the fire to a short-circuit and put the loss at around Rs 1.5 crore.

The fire, which spread panic in the congested Raopura area, was first noticed by some people who were sleeping in the verandah of the Vadodara regional office of Fisheries Department. Even as they raised an alarm, an anonymous person informed the Fire Brigade around 2.45 am.

Vadodara Fire Brigade officials said while 30 water fire tenders were pressed into service, the fire was put off at 7 am.

A number of Sangh office-bearers, who had reached the spot after they were informed on the telephone of the fire, opened the showroom, which enabled the fire brigade to intensify their efforts.

A number of senior officials of Vadodara Municipal Corporation, including mayor Bharati Vyas, also visited the spot later in the morning.

Talking to Express Newsline, show-room manager Vinodbhai Ray said losses were estimated to be over Rs 1.5 crore as a large number of furniture pieces, clothes and other commodities had been completely gutted, while other items damaged. He said both the floors of the recently renovated showroom was also badly damaged.

Meanwhile, officials said the damage was more because the showroom had been exhaustively stocked with material in the wake of festival season and declaration of 30 per cent discount. All the about 5,000 small co-operatives had put up their items at the showroom for the festival sale season.