Balasore, Nov 14 (UDN): More than 10 temporary shops were reduced to ashes after a major fire broke out at a Kali Puja fair near Khalabadia village under Bhograi block in Odisha’s Balasore district late Friday night.
The incident occurred at around 2:30 am when a fire reportedly started at one of the stalls before rapidly spreading to nearby shops. Within a short time, the flames engulfed more than 10 temporary establishments, destroying merchandise and other valuables stored inside.
The incident has left several shopkeepers facing substantial financial losses.
Firefighters Battle Blaze for Hours
After receiving information about the incident, a team from Bhograi Fire Services rushed to the spot and launched firefighting operations. Fire personnel worked for an extended period to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from spreading further.
Although a short circuit is suspected to have triggered the fire, the exact cause remains unclear. Authorities are expected to establish the cause and assess the extent of the damage following an investigation.
Shopkeepers Appeal for Government Assistance
The affected traders fear that goods and property worth several lakhs of rupees have been destroyed in the incident. Many of them reportedly failed to retrieve their belongings as the fire spread rapidly during the early hours of the morning.
One of the affected shopkeepers said there was hardly any opportunity to save the goods or salvage the shop once the fire broke out.
“We could not save anything. The entire shop and all the goods inside were completely destroyed. I have suffered huge financial losses,” the shopkeeper said.
Following the incident, the affected traders have urged the local administration to conduct an assessment of the losses and extend financial assistance to help them recover from the setback.
Administration to Assess Damage
According to reports, the local Tehsildar said the department would coordinate with the Revenue Inspector (RI) to obtain a detailed assessment of the damage caused by the fire.
The report will subsequently be forwarded to the concerned authorities for necessary action.
Meanwhile, the affected shopkeepers are hoping for timely administrative intervention and compensation to help them rebuild their businesses.