Cuttack, June 1: A devastating fire that broke out at the fish market near Press Chhak in Cuttack late Sunday night was brought under control only after a marathon nine-hour firefighting operation. Firefighters, assisted by local residents, battled the blaze through the night to prevent it from spreading further.

According to sources, the fire erupted around 2 a.m. and quickly engulfed the fish market complex. The flames spread rapidly due to the presence of a paint warehouse inside the building, making firefighting efforts extremely challenging. A branch of Bank of India housed within the premises was also affected by the blaze.

At least ten fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames. Fire officials also deployed advanced firefighting equipment, including robotic technology, to tackle the intense fire. As the blaze proved difficult to contain, portions of the building were demolished using JCB machines to facilitate firefighting operations.

The incident caused extensive damage to the fish market, with around 17 traders reportedly affected. Fish traders claimed that cash amounting to nearly ₹50–60 lakh was destroyed in the fire. The traders said they had retained the cash after a busy day of business on Sunday as banks were closed and the money could not be deposited.

Apart from cash, furniture, deep freezers and other business assets were completely gutted in the blaze, leaving many traders counting heavy losses.

The fire also reportedly damaged cash and property inside the Bank of India branch. However, the exact extent of the damage is yet to be officially confirmed.

After nearly nine hours of continuous efforts, the Fire Services personnel finally succeeded in bringing the blaze under control. Authorities have launched an assessment of the losses, while the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined.