Puri market complex fire extinguished after 36 hours’ attempt
The fire that had been raging in the Laxmi Market Complex at Marichikot Chhak on Grand Road in Odisha's Puri town since Wednesday evening was completely extinguished this morning after 36 hours of arduous firefighting.
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Puri: The fire that had been raging in the Laxmi Market Complex at Marichikot Chhak on Grand Road in Odisha's Puri town since Wednesday evening was completely extinguished this morning after 36 hours of arduous firefighting.
After thoroughly inspecting all areas of the complex, which is about 300 meters from Jagannath Temple, fire service personnel declared that the fire had been completely extinguished and that the building posed no danger.
In the fire, 43 commercial establishments and a bank were reduced to ashes. Crores of rupees in assets were lost.
While at least 350 people were evacuated to safety, the building's narrow entrance and downed shutters hampered the operation because firefighters were unable to use water canons to extinguish the fire. The heat was so intense that it melted the iron shutters of shops and turned the entire structure into a cauldron, with chunks of roof collapsing. Firefighters used water canons to keep the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings.
To control the blaze, eight firefighting teams from Satyabadi, Nimapara, Gop, and surrounding areas, as well as another four from Bhubaneswar, were called in. Three people were injured minorly, and one firefighter was burned in the accident.
Meanwhile, the district administration has formed a committee to investigate the cause of the fire, which will be led by the Puri sub-collector. Its members will include the local tehsildar and the IIC, as well as other senior officials.
Following this major fire, many people have questioned the fire safety measures in Pilgrim Town's buildings and market complexes. Locals claimed that the Puri Konark Development Authority (PKDA) approved numerous building plans that did not meet mandatory fire safety and parking standards.
They have demanded that the fire safety measures be monitored on a regular basis.
