A massive fire broke out in a market building in Bhubaneswar, burning down over 20 shops.

Odisha: Nearly 20 shops were gutted in a massive fire that broke out in a market building complex in the capital, Bhubaneswar, on Tuesday morning. Goods worth lakhs of rupees are feared destroyed in the blaze. Upon receiving the information, several fire brigade teams arrived at the scene and, after considerable effort, began a firefighting operation. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported.

According to preliminary information, the fire initially broke out in a clothing store. The fire quickly engulfed the surrounding shops. Panic erupted as the fire spread to several shops in the market area. The high flames and thick smoke could be seen from afar.

Upon learning of the incident, local residents and shopkeepers rushed to the scene. Many traders attempted to evacuate their goods, but the rapid spread of the fire prevented them from safely removing most of the goods. Within a short time, many shops were completely engulfed in flames.

Upon receiving the information, fire brigade teams arrived at the scene and began extinguishing the fire. Firefighters continuously sprayed water to prevent the fire from spreading to other nearby shops. After several hours of effort, the fire was gradually brought under control. Officials worked to ensure that the fire did not flare up again.

During the incident, police maintained security in the market area and advised people to stay away from the affected area. Crowd control was also maintained and a path was cleared for fire engines to ensure that relief and rescue operations were not hampered.

Preliminary investigations suggest an electrical short circuit as the likely cause of the fire. However, officials have clarified that the actual cause will only be determined after a detailed investigation is completed. The relevant department is inspecting the site and conducting a technical investigation.

Clothes, merchandise, furniture, and other items stored in the affected shops were destroyed in the fire. Shopkeepers report suffering significant financial losses. An accurate assessment of the damage will only be available after an investigation by the administration and related departments.

The Market Building is considered a major commercial area of ​​Bhubaneswar, where a large number of people visit daily for shopping. The fire that broke out in the morning caused panic among the people present in the market for some time. However, the situation was brought under control with the timely arrival of fire and police teams.

The administration has increased security in the affected area and is conducting a survey of the shops affected by the fire. It will also investigate whether all fire safety standards were followed in the market. If any negligence is revealed, necessary action will be taken at the appropriate level.

At present, the fire has been completely controlled. The administration has stated that a detailed investigation into the incident is underway, and the cause of the fire and the damage caused are being assessed. Officials have appealed to the public to ignore rumors and rely only on official information.