A major fire incident has triggered panic near Bhubaneswar’s Lingipur area after a massive blaze broke out at a multi-storey supermarket late Monday night and continued raging for more than 12 hours. The fire reportedly started around 10:30 pm on the third floor of the building and quickly intensified, spreading rapidly due to the presence of highly flammable materials stored inside.
According to officials, the supermarket housed large quantities of plastic household goods, rubber materials, steel utensils, and other consumer products. The heavy stock of combustible materials contributed to the rapid spread of flames and made firefighting operations extremely challenging. Thick black smoke and repeated flare-ups prevented quick access to the inner sections of the building.
Immediately after the incident was reported, fire services rushed multiple teams to the spot. More than 40 fire tenders were deployed overnight in a massive operation to control the blaze. Firefighters continued operations throughout the night and into the next day, battling intense heat and poor visibility conditions.
Given the seriousness of the situation, firefighters were forced to break portions of the building walls to gain entry and prevent the fire from spreading further. The enclosed design of the structure and heavy storage load added to the complexity of the operation, requiring coordinated efforts from multiple firefighting units.
In a rare step, an advanced robotic monitor was also deployed to control the fire from inside the building. The robotic equipment was sent in soon after the blaze began, but officials said extreme heat and dense smoke restricted its effectiveness, forcing teams to rely heavily on manual firefighting efforts.
Fire Services Director General Sudhanshu Sarangi informed that while fires on the first three floors were largely brought under control, operations were still underway on the fourth floor, where highly flammable rubber and plastic items continued to burn. Due to the nature of the materials, firefighters switched from water to foam compounds to suppress the flames more effectively. He added that it may take several more hours before the fire is completely extinguished.
Authorities suspect that a possible short circuit may have triggered the incident, though the exact cause will be confirmed only after a detailed investigation. Officials have also begun assessing the extent of damage, which is expected to run into lakhs of rupees.
Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported so far. Firefighting teams remain on-site, continuing cooling operations and monitoring the structure to prevent any further flare-ups or collapse risks. The incident has once again highlighted fire safety concerns in commercial buildings storing large volumes of plastic and combustible goods.
