Bhubaneswar: The devastating fire, which broke out late on Monday in Bhubaneswar’s bustling Unit-I Market and destroyed around 40 shops, has once again ignited concerns over safety standards in the area, especially as it marks the second major blaze within just four months.
Echoing Chief Fire Officer Ramesh Chandra Majhi, City Mayor Sulochana Das blamed the rapid spread of the fire through the congested market lanes on highly inflammable plastic and polythene materials stored in the shops. “The shopkeepers have been told time and again to use tins instead of synthetic tarpaulin and polythene sheets as cover and shed. They do business in makeshift tents and also stock a lot of highly inflammable goods and extend their shop spaces through encroachment. This market has always been a concern for us because it is extremely crowded with far too many shops, which have been converted into stockyards,” she said, stressing the congested layout of the market.
Unit I Market, the city’s biggest retail and wholesale hub, has more than 200 outlets, including around 20 hotels and eateries, wholesale godowns, vegetable retail kiosks, home appliances, other essential items, medicine shops, and daily needs apart from puja items.
The fire broke out at around 1.30-2 am in the front area outside the vending kiosks of the market. The blaze is suspected to have originated at an idol shop close to the Capital police station, rapidly spread to a parked two-wheeler nearby, and then engulfed adjacent shops. The use of synthetic tarpaulin and polythene sheets intensified the flames, while LPG cylinders inside some shops worsened the situation. As many as 12 fire tenders with over 70 personnel, along with robotic monitors and a specialised striking force, had to battle for nearly three hours to bring the blaze under control. The parking area behind the affected shops acted as a barrier, preventing the blaze from spreading further, according to officials.
The Mayor expressed relief that the incident resulted in no casualties. “Fortunately, there was no loss of life because the fire broke out late at night when no one was sleeping in the shops. However, the blaze destroyed at least 30 shops overnight, leading to significant losses for the affected owners,” she stated.
She said that an investigation will be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of the fire. “A lot of small vendors have lost their livelihood in the fire and there is no provision to compensate them since they are yet to sign for the group insurance under the SOP. I have spoken to the sub-collector. The RI will be here to ascertain the losses, accordingly compensation would be paid to them,” she stated.
Das stressed the need for awareness among the people to contain such mishaps. “Whenever authorities take action against unauthorised shops, shopkeepers’ associations immediately stage protests. The owners of makeshift/temporary shops should run their businesses responsibly and avoid putting others at risk,” she said.
The October 22, 2025, incident gutted around 30 shops, prompting the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to announce strict measures, including a complete ban on use of tarpaulin and plastic sheets in all markets and haats in the city. It was then that the vendors were asked to replace those plastic sheets with alternatives that are non-flammable, and avoid encroaching on roads.
The Mayor further stated that the BMC is constructing a new market complex in Bhagabanpur and intends to shift wholesalers from the Unit-1 Market to this new facility once it is completed. “This relocation will help reduce congestion in the area and lower the chances of similar incidents happening again in the future,” she added.
Meanwhile, Kabiraj Swain, president of the Unit-I Market Traders’ Association, urged the civic body to widen lanes to at least 20 feet and strictly enforce rules requiring goods to be kept inside shops. He also alleged that many traders operate businesses beyond their permitted categories, such as converting eateries into grocery stores without proper regulation.
