Bhubaneswar: A massive fire broke out at the Unit-2 Market Building in Bhubaneswar early Tuesday morning, destroying more than 15 shops and causing losses worth several lakhs of rupees. The blaze triggered a large-scale firefighting operation that continued for several hours as thick smoke billowed through the commercial complex.
Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported, as the market was closed when the fire erupted.
Fire Spread Rapidly Through Garment Shops
According to preliminary information, the fire started at around 5 a.m. in one of the ready-made garment stores before rapidly spreading to adjoining shops.
The flames intensified quickly because many of the shops were interconnected and stocked with highly combustible materials, particularly polyester garments and other clothing items. Within a short span, a major section of the market was engulfed, leaving traders helpless as the fire consumed valuable merchandise.
Firefighters Launch Massive Rescue Operation
Firefighters from the Secretariat and Kalpana Square Fire Stations were among the first to reach the spot after receiving information about the incident.
To tackle the blaze, the Fire Services Department deployed five fire tenders, along with hydraulic spread cutters, jacks, hoses, and multiple water tankers. The operation focused initially on preventing the fire from spreading to nearby establishments before extinguishing the flames inside the affected shops.
The narrow layout of the market and the dense smoke made the operation particularly challenging, forcing firefighters to work cautiously while breaking open shop shutters to access the source of the fire.
Assistant Fire Officer Manoranjan Rout said the department received the emergency call at around 6:55 a.m.
“Our first priority was to prevent the fire from spreading further, and we immediately launched the operation. Most of the blaze has been brought under control, but flames continued to burn inside some shops because of the heavy smoke,” he said.
He added that rescue teams had to use hydraulic jacks to force open several locked shutters to reach the fire trapped inside the commercial units.
Traders Suffer Heavy Losses
The Unit-2 Market is well known for its ready-made garment stores, and most of the affected establishments dealt in clothing, ethnic wear, and fashion accessories.
One shop owner said his store specialised in men’s ready-made garments and sherwanis. He rushed to the market after receiving a phone call around 7:30 a.m., but by the time he arrived, the shop had already been completely destroyed.
According to the trader, garments worth ₹40–50 lakh were reduced to ashes. Since the market had remained closed on Monday, there were no staff members or customers inside the shops when the fire broke out, preventing what could have been a much more serious tragedy.
Several other traders also reported substantial financial losses as stocks prepared for the festive and wedding seasons were destroyed in the incident.
Short Circuit Suspected
Fire officials suspect that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze, although the exact cause will only be confirmed after a detailed technical investigation.
Authorities are expected to examine the electrical wiring and other possible factors before submitting a final report.
Meanwhile, the affected traders have urged the government to provide financial assistance and expedite the investigation so that business operations can resume at the earliest.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over fire safety measures in busy commercial markets, particularly those dealing with highly inflammable materials. Officials are expected to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage and review safety protocols to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
