A massive fire broke out at Unit-1 Market in Bhubaneswar late Monday night, gutting more than 40 shops and causing heavy damage to property. Officials said the exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
According to sources, the fire originated at an idol shop near the Capital Police Station around 1:45 am. The flames quickly spread to a nearby parked scooter before engulfing several adjoining shops within a short span of time.
The situation escalated after LPG cylinders stored inside some of the shops exploded, intensifying the blaze. The presence of plastic materials in nearby outlets further fuelled the fire, posing serious challenges for firefighters during the rescue and containment operations.
To douse the flames, at least 13 fire tenders were deployed, along with robotic monitors and a special striking fire force team. Around 70 fire service personnel and 10 fire officers were involved in the operation. After nearly three hours of continuous effort, the fire was finally brought under control.
Fire officials said the blaze did not spread beyond the affected area as a parking space behind the shops acted as a natural firebreak. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident.
“My shop has been completely destroyed. I do not have any insurance,” said one distressed shopkeeper.
Another trader said he had closed his shop around 10 pm and returned home, only to receive a call about the fire at around 1:30 am. “I rushed to the spot immediately. I have been running my business here for the last 40 years, and goods worth nearly Rs 3 lakh have been damaged,” he said.
Meanwhile, authorities have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Chanchal Rana said that despite repeated warnings against selling plastic items, some traders continued the practice. “Around 40 shops, including vending carts, were destroyed in the incident. Our emergency response teams, along with two teams from the tehsil offices, have been deployed to assess the losses. Necessary government assistance will be extended to the affected shopkeepers,” he said.
