Bhubaneswar: A devastating blaze ripped through a four-storey market complex in Lingipur on Monday night, triggering a massive fire-fighting operation that stretched till Tuesday evening, lasting for over 18 hours.Although no casualties were reported in the fire that started around 10.30 pm on Monday, the inferno left the building severely damaged, with cracks appearing in its structure. Fire-fighters were forced to drill holes and break portions of the walls to release the thick smoke.
The fire, fuelled by large stocks of plastic and rubber, spread rapidly from the third to the fourth floor. At least 50 personnel, 15 fire tenders, a hydraulic ladder, and an advanced robotic machine were deployed to battle the flames, which destroyed property worth lakhs of rupees. “We managed to bring the fire under control around 4.30 pm,” a firefighter said.Officials described the operation as one of the most challenging in recent memory, citing lack of access, dense smoke, repeated flare-ups, and the supermarket’s congested layout with poor ventilation. According to official sources, the building did not have any fire safety certificate.“Lakhs of litres of water proved ineffective against the highly flammable plastic and rubber. Foam compounds had to be used to contain the flames,” said Sudhanshu Sarangi, DG (fire and emergency services).Sarangi noted that fire-fighters struggled to access the blaze due to lack of windows, doors, and emergency exits. Even heat-resistant suits offered little protection against the extreme temperatures. The robotic monitor was deployed inside but faltered against the intense heat and smoke.Large quantities of household goods, steel utensils, and plastic items were reduced to ashes, with officials stressing that the excessive stock of plastic prolonged the burning.Crowds of onlookers further complicated the operation, with many filming videos and obstructing movement. “Fearing structural collapse, we requested police to evacuate the area immediately,” Sarangi added.As the building is located along the Bhubaneswar-Puri NH-316 near Sisupalgarh, traffic along the busy stretch was affected due to large congregation of passersby.For Subash Chandra Jagati, owner of the complex, the tragedy was doubly cruel. Another shop owned by him in Unit-1 market area was gutted in the recent past. “I am ruined. Goods worth crores have been lost. My complex had fire safety equipment, yet this disaster struck,” said an inconsolable Subash.
