Massive Blaze Guts Balasore Cosmetic Store; Rs 1.5 Crore Loss Reported
Balasore, Odisha — A devastating fire engulfed the Banaja Cosmetics Store in the heart of Balasore city early Wednesday morning, causing property damage estimated at over Rs 1.5 crore.
The blaze erupted around 3:30 am at the four-storey showroom located between Cinema Chhak and Babylon Chhak under the Town police station limits. Eyewitnesses reported thick smoke and loud explosions as flames rapidly spread across floors, prompting an urgent response from the fire department.
Ten fire tenders from Balasore, Remuna, and nearby stations battled the inferno for nearly six hours before bringing it under control. Officials confirmed that the store housed highly flammable items such as sanitisers, deodorants, nail polish, and removers, which intensified the fire.
The upper warehouse section, stocked with cosmetics, household goods, and gift items, was completely gutted. Preliminary reports suggest the absence of proper fire safety measures contributed to the scale of destruction.
While the exact cause remains under investigation, authorities suspect an electrical short circuit may have triggered the incident. No casualties have been reported so far.
