Massive Fire in Badi Chaupar, Over 20 Shops Gutted

These shops included clothing warehouses, plastic goods stores, and bangle shops, all filled with flammable materials.

Fire Brigades at the Scene

Manak Chowk police station is located a short distance from the fire site. Seeing the smoke, policemen immediately reached the spot and tried to control the situation.

The police promptly informed the fire department. Around 8 AM, five fire tenders arrived at the scene and began firefighting operations. Later, about half a dozen more fire vehicles, police, and administrative officials joined the relief and rescue efforts.

Challenges in Firefighting

Firefighters are facing great difficulty in extinguishing the fire due to the presence of clothes, plastic, and other flammable materials inside the shops.

The interconnected nature of the shops and closed shutters caused smoke to fill the interiors. Additionally, narrow lanes made it difficult for fire tenders to reach the spot.

Traders Make Serious Allegations

According to local traders, a restaurant is also operating on the floor above where the fire broke out. Traders alleged that this restaurant is running illegally.

They also mentioned that a fire incident had occurred on the roof of a place connected to the same restaurant during Makar Sankranti, for which a complaint was filed at Manak Chowk police station.

Questions Raised on Fire Safety and Encroachment

Purohit Ji Ka Katla is a major wholesale market for women's clothing, sarees, bridal lehengas, and wedding items. It has more than 535 shops and sees a large number of people daily.

Inadequate Safety Arrangements in the Market

Traders have raised serious questions about the safety arrangements in the market. According to them, there are several safety lapses in the market that invite such incidents.

• Many fire hydrants installed in the market are defective, or their valves and couplings are missing.
• Open electrical switches and dangling wires around the shops also pose a major threat.
• Due to encroachment, the market's approximately 5-feet wide road has been reduced to 2 feet in many places.
• More goods are kept outside the shops than inside, which can affect relief work in an emergency.

*Edit with Google AI Studio