Bhubaneswar: A massive fire broke out at Unit-II market on Tuesday morning, reducing at least 10 shops to ashes. According to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), most of these shops were unauthorised garment outlets.Fire personnel reached the spot after thick smoke was seen billowing from the shops. Since the outlets primarily sold apparel, the flames spread rapidly, leaving only the skeletal remains of the structures.Assistant fire officer Manaranjan Rout said preliminary investigation suggests a short circuit may have triggered the blaze. “The shop owners used high illuminating lights and wires criss-crossed in an unsafe manner. People saw fire coming from inside and informed us,” Rout said. “Before it could spread further to nearby shops, we doused the flame,” he added.The incident comes months after a similar blaze in Jan, when nearly 100 shops with materials worth Rs 8 crore were gutted in the Unit-I market due to a short circuit. Officials fear the recurrence highlights unsafe practices and lack of regulation in the commercial hubs.BMC mayor Sulochana Das and senior officials visited the site to assess the damage. Shop owners have demanded compensation for their losses.
