Bhubaneswar: A fire broke out at Mahavir Market Complex near CRP Square in Bhubaneswar on Friday, sparking panic among shoppers and locals in the busy commercial area.
According to sources, the blaze is suspected to have started inside a gift shop on the first floor of the market complex late last night and came to the fore when shopkeepers arrived around 9 this morning. Four firefighting teams with 40 personnel soon reached the spot. Despite initial challenges from heavy smoke that prevented entry into the complex, they successfully brought the blaze under control.
However, 15 shops, selling books, clothing, medicine and electrical equipment, along with an SBI ATM, at the complex were damaged as the blaze raged through the night. An electrical short-circuit is suspected to have caused the fire.
This incident draws attention to recurring fire risks in Bhubaneswar’s crowded markets, where densely packed shops often house combustible materials. It echoes in recent fires at Unit-1, Tarini Market and a four-storey super mart at Lingipur.
