Ten shops were destroyed in a major fire that erupted in the Delhi Bazaar area near Gol Market in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, late on Sunday night. No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the fire, suspected to be caused by a short circuit, spread rapidly due to the presence of large quantities of inflammable fabrics, including saris and silk, stored in the shops. Four fire tenders were deployed to combat the blaze, which raged for approximately three hours before being brought under control.
Santosh Sharma, Commandant, Home Guards, Solan, confirmed that a team of 12 firefighters and four fire tenders were dispatched to the scene at 11:26 pm after the fire was reported. The intense firefighting efforts managed to prevent the flames from spreading to over 20 nearby shops, thereby averting a potentially larger disaster.
While initial assessments point towards a short circuit as the probable cause, a thorough investigation is underway to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the fire. A police team also arrived at the market to assess the situation. SP Baddi Vinod Dhiman was reportedly unavailable for comment at the time of reporting.
Traders affected by the fire, who incurred losses estimated to be in the lakhs, have submitted appeals to the administration seeking compensation and other forms of assistance. They expressed concern over the significant damage to their merchandise and livelihoods.
This incident marks the second fire outbreak in Baddi in recent weeks. In April, two cars were gutted in a fire that originated from a transformer malfunction at Basanti Bagh, where the vehicles were parked beneath the faulty transformer. Such recurring incidents highlight concerns regarding electrical safety infrastructure in commercial areas.
Baddi, a prominent industrial hub in Himachal Pradesh, hosts numerous manufacturing units and commercial establishments. The market area where the fire occurred is a busy hub for textile traders, and the damage sustained by the affected shop owners is substantial. The investigation will likely focus on the electrical wiring and maintenance of the commercial complex.
The prompt response of the fire department is credited with containing the damage, but the loss to the traders is significant. Local authorities are expected to conduct a detailed survey of the affected shops to determine the extent of the damage and the quantum of relief that can be provided to the affected traders. The incident underscores the need for stringent fire safety audits and adherence to safety protocols in markets across industrial towns.
Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses. The economic impact on the local traders and the broader implications for market safety in Baddi are being assessed.
The Chenab Times News Desk