Bhubaneswar, Feb. 15: Around 20 shops were gutted in a fire at Unit-I market, one of the busiest daily establishments in the city.
Fire brigade personnel suspect that a short circuit had triggered the blaze around 2.35am.
A fire brigade official said that three fire tenders were pressed into action. As the incident happened when the market was shut, no one was injured in the incident. The situation was brought under control after one hour.
The incident, however, has exposed the lack of fire safety measures at daily markets in the city.
According to experts, the daily market was not equipped with fire-safety measures. To avert such an eventuality markets should have water hydrant system, ample free space, smoke detectors, water sprinklers and portable fire extinguishers. Unit-I market did not have any of these safety equipment or measures in place.
The experts said a major tragedy was averted as the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning.
In November 2013, around 40 shops were gutted in a fire at the market. However, no one was injured in the incident as the fire broke out early in the morning.
"Whenever a fire has broken out in the market, it has been during the night or early in the morning when there were no people around. Had the fire broken out during the busy hours, the consequence would be hard to imagine," said Subash Sahu, a shopkeeper in the market.
There are more than 1,400 shops and 1,000 roadside vendors operate in the market, which was set up in 1958. It has a daily footfall of more than 20,000. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation had earlier planned to renovate the daily market and convert it into a four-storey complex with a proper parking lot.
According to the plan, there was a proposal to build around 1,500 shops and mega parking space to accommodate 2,000 two-wheelers and 1,000 cars. However, the proposal is yet to be implemented with the authorities not being able to free encroachments from around the market.
Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said the civic body was initiating steps to relocate 31 families in a slum in the market area.
"Once we relocate these families, we will expedite the renovation work. We are also trying to free up other encroached areas in the market place," Jena said.