BMC Blames Vendors for Unit-1 Market Fire; Over 40 Shops Gutted

Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Sulochana Das on Tuesday held vendors responsible for the massive fire that gutted the Unit-1 Market complex in the early hours, citing repeated violations of fire safety norms despite multiple warnings by the civic body.

Addressing the media, the Mayor said shop owners had consistently ignored BMC’s appeals to avoid storing inflammable materials and using plastic sheets for extending their shops. “We repeatedly requested vendors to follow fire safety measures, but our warnings were not taken seriously. Fortunately, the fire broke out at night when no one was inside the shops, preventing loss of life. However, the financial loss is huge,” Das said, adding that an investigation would be conducted to determine the exact cause of the blaze.

She pointed out that fire incidents have occurred repeatedly at the Unit-1 Market complex due to overcrowding and unsafe practices. “Vendors continue to stock inflammable goods and use plastic roofing, which catches fire instantly. This negligence is the main reason such mishaps keep recurring,” the Mayor said, reiterating BMC’s appeal to replace plastic sheets with tin roofing.

Calling Unit-1 Market a “constant concern” for civic authorities, Das said the area remains highly congested, with the number of shops increasing daily in violation of norms. “Whenever action is taken against unauthorised shops, associations protest. Makeshift shop owners must act responsibly and not put others’ lives at risk,” she said.

The Mayor also announced that the BMC is developing a new market complex at Bhagabanpur and plans to relocate wholesalers from Unit-1 Market once the facility is ready. “This will help decongest the area and significantly reduce the risk of such incidents in the future,” she added.

The major fire broke out near the Capital Police Station, gutting more than 40 shops and destroying goods worth several crores of rupees. According to Chief Fire Officer Ramesh Chandra Majhi, the Fire Services received the alert around 1.35 am.

“Plastic materials stored in the market fueled the fire, making it extremely difficult to control,” Majhi said. Nearly 70 fire personnel, 10 fire officers and 13 fire tenders were pressed into service, and the firefighting operation lasted close to three hours before the blaze was brought under control.