UditVani, Jamshedpur : A massive fire broke out late Wednesday night at the Sidhgora market vegetable mandi, gutting more than a dozen shops and causing an estimated loss of nearly Rs 30 lakh.
The sudden blaze triggered panic as shopkeepers rushed to the spot and tried in vain to douse the flames with buckets of water.
A woman vendor lost her entire shop and stood helpless as it burned, while vegetable traders Ajit Chandra and Raju Rao, along with grocery shop owner Dina Prasad, reported complete destruction of their establishments. Two large storage units were also reduced to ashes.
Police and fire services reached the spot shortly after being alerted. Although firefighters eventually brought the blaze under control, extensive damage had already been done. Traders said that had the fire continued any longer, hundreds of nearby shops could have been engulfed.
The market has witnessed major fires in the past, including a severe one in 2019. While some traders allege that miscreants may have set the fire intentionally, police are examining CCTV footage to determine the cause. A short circuit is also suspected as a possible trigger.
Shopkeepers have urged authorities to conduct a thorough probe and implement stronger safety measures in the densely packed marketplace.
