Bhubaneswar, Mar 20: A major fire erupted on Friday at the Mahabir Market Complex near CRP Square, causing panic among shopkeepers, employees, and local residents in the busy commercial hub.

Preliminary reports suggest that a short circuit may have triggered the fire. The blaze reportedly started on the first floor of the building and quickly spread to adjacent shops. Thick smoke engulfed the area, hampering visibility and posing challenges for initial firefighting efforts.

The market complex houses numerous commercial establishments, including bank ATMs, garment stores, plastic goods shops, and other retail outlets.

Sources indicated that goods and property worth several lakhs of rupees were destroyed, although an official assessment of the damage is still underway.

Fire brigade teams rushed to the scene, deploying at least four fire tenders to contain the blaze. Firefighters battled intense heat and dense smoke to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby buildings. Authorities confirmed that no casualties have been reported so far.

BDA officials said the situation is under close monitoring, and efforts are underway to fully extinguish the fire.