Bhubaneswar, June 30 (UDN): An early morning fire swept through the Unit-2 Market Building in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, reducing more than 15 shops to ashes and causing extensive damage to commercial establishments.
The fire reportedly broke out around 5:00 a.m. in a garment shop and spread swiftly to neighbouring outlets due to the interconnected structure of the market and the presence of highly flammable materials, including polyester clothing. Thick smoke engulfed the building as flames rapidly intensified.
Upon receiving the alert, teams from the Odisha Fire and Emergency Services, including personnel from the Secretariat and Kalpana Square fire stations, rushed to the scene. Five fire tenders, supported by specialised firefighting equipment and water tankers, were deployed to bring the blaze under control after several hours of sustained efforts.
Police officials cordoned off the area to facilitate rescue and firefighting operations while ensuring public safety. Although no injuries or fatalities have been reported, the incident resulted in significant losses for traders, with goods and property worth lakhs of rupees feared destroyed.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be established. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the source of the blaze and assess the full extent of the damage.
The incident has once again highlighted the importance of robust fire safety measures in densely packed commercial markets, where closely built shops and combustible goods can accelerate the spread of fire.
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