A massive fire that broke out at a supermarket in the Lingipur area of Bhubaneswar was brought under control after nearly 21 hours of continuous firefighting, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Deputy Fire Officer Narayan Das stated that the blaze was doused at around 4 pm, though smoke continued to emanate from parts of the building. The structure has been kept under close observation, and at least one fire brigade team remains deployed at the site until the smoke fully subsides and the premises are declared safe.
The fire erupted at around 10 pm on Monday, triggering a large-scale emergency response. More than 60 fire personnel were engaged in round-the-clock operations to contain the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent structures. Firefighters faced considerable challenges while battling the blaze through the night and into the following day.
Officials revealed that the supermarket did not possess a valid No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department. The building reportedly had only a single entry and exit point, which significantly hampered firefighting efforts and forced personnel to break a wall to gain access. Although an extinguisher system was installed inside the structure, it was suspected to be non-functional.
Authorities have announced that a detailed investigation will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the fire and to examine possible lapses in safety compliance. Further action is likely based on the findings of the inquiry.
