15 Shops Gutted In Major Fire At Vegetable Market In Odisha’s Aska

Berhampur: More than 15 shops were reduced to ashes as a major fire broke out at a vegetable market in at Aska in Odisha’s Ganjam district in the early hours of Sunday.

As per sources, the fire erupted at the vegetable market at Laxmi Bazar in Aska in the wee hours, reducing around 15 shops to ashes. No injury to anyone was reported in the incident.

While the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, sources said substantial damage was caused and goods worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed.

The incident took place when the market was closed for Dussehra. Initial reports indicated that the fire might have started in one shop and then spread to adjacent structures.

On being informed, fire service personnel with firefighting equipment rushed to the site and worked for several hours to bring the flames under control. The extent of the damage is substantial, though no injuries have been reported so far.

Locals speculated that the lamps used during Dussehra puja could be a possible cause of the fire mishap. Further investigation is underway.