A private metal scrap godown at Perumalpettai near Vaniyambadi town in Tirupattur was gutted on Saturday after a fire broke out in the facility and goods worth ₹8 lakh got destroyed.

Police said that it was around 9 a.m. when residents noticed thick smoke billowing out of the godown, which was run by K. Padmanaban, 49, a resident of Vaniyambadi. Immediately, they tried to douse the fire but the flames engulfed the entire godown.

Based on an alert, fire fighters from Vaniyambadi town rushed to the spot. But before the firemen could reach there, fire spread across the entire godown. After a few hours of hard labour, fire fighters doused the flames.

However, the entire facility got completely gutted. A case was registered by Vaniyambadi Town police. Police said that an electrical short circuit could be the reason for the accident. A probe is under way.