Major Fire Engulfs Bhubaneswar Market Complex, Causing Significant Damage
A substantial fire broke out at the prominent Priyadarshini Market Complex located at CRP Square in Bhubaneswar on Friday, resulting in the complete destruction of two shops and partial damage to an ATM. The incident caused considerable panic among shopkeepers, employees, and customers present at the time.
Fire Officials Confirm No Casualties but Substantial Property Loss
While fire officials have confirmed that there was no loss of human life in the incident, the damage to property is currently being assessed and is expected to be significant. The market complex, situated at a prime location in the city, houses over 100 shops spread across a four-storey building.
The fire originated in a shop on the first floor where the air conditioning system had been left running overnight. According to Assistant Fire Officer Manoranjan Rout, when the shop owner arrived to open the establishment in the morning, smoke was already emanating from a corner near the AC unit.
Rapid Fire Spread and Emergency Response
The fire quickly spread from the initial shop to adjacent establishments, creating a dangerous situation that required immediate intervention. Fire department officials responded with six fire tenders to combat the blaze at the large market complex.
"We brought six fire tenders to douse the fire due to the size and complexity of the market," explained Assistant Fire Officer Rout. "Within approximately one hour, we successfully extinguished the flames and prevented further spread to other areas of the building."
Evacuation and Traffic Disruption
As firefighters began their operations, shopkeepers and customers promptly evacuated the building to ensure their safety. The emergency response did cause some temporary traffic disruption along the route, though sources indicate there was no major traffic jam created by the incident.
The fire department's swift action prevented what could have been a much more catastrophic event given the market's size and the number of businesses operating within the complex. The exact financial impact of the damage is still being calculated as authorities continue their assessment of the affected properties.
