Bhubaneswar’s Unit-1 Market Ravaged by Fire, 40 Shops Reduced to Ashes

Bhubaneswar, Oct 22: A massive fire broke out this afternoon at Bhubaneswar’s bustling Unit-1 market, engulfing nearly 40 shops and causing extensive damage to property and goods.

The blaze, which reportedly began in a garment shop around 2:40 PM, spread rapidly due to the presence of flammable materials and the congested layout of the market.

Firefighters responded within minutes, deploying 15 fire engines and over 140 personnel to contain the inferno. The flames were brought under control within 30 minutes, but not before lakhs worth of merchandise were destroyed.

Ramesh Majhi, a senior officer from the Fire Services Department, confirmed that the alert was received at 2:40 PM and teams reached the site within three minutes. “Our priority was to contain the fire and prevent further spread.

The cause is yet to be determined and will be investigated once the site is fully secured,” he stated.

This is not the first such incident at Unit-1 market. Previous fire outbreaks have highlighted the vulnerability of the area due to its dense shop arrangement and lack of fire safety infrastructure.

Local shopkeepers expressed anguish over the losses, many of whom had stocked up for the festive season. Authorities are expected to assess the damage and initiate safety audits to prevent future mishaps.