Agartala, March 6: A devastating fire broke out late Thursday night at the Teliamura fruit market, reducing several shops to ashes and causing losses worth several lakhs of rupees. The sudden blaze spread rapidly through the market area, creating panic among residents and leaving local traders in shock.
According to local sources, the fire was first noticed in one of the shops around midnight. Within a short time, the flames spread to nearby stalls and shops, quickly engulfing a large portion of the market. The intensity of the fire and the close proximity of the shops allowed the blaze to spread rapidly, making the situation extremely chaotic.
Upon receiving the information, firefighters from the Teliamura Fire Service Station rushed to the spot and immediately began efforts to control the flames. However, the situation became more complicated when several LPG cylinders and drums of kerosene stored inside one of the shops caught fire. The presence of these highly flammable materials intensified the blaze and posed a major challenge for the firefighters.
Fire service personnel battled the flames for several hours. With the help of three fire tenders, they finally managed to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading further to other nearby structures.
Preliminary reports indicate that at least six to seven shops were completely gutted in the incident. Fruits, business equipment, and other goods stored in the shops were destroyed, resulting in heavy financial losses for the traders. The affected shop owners said their losses are estimated to be in the range of several lakhs of rupees.
The incident has left local traders deeply distressed, as many of them depended on the market for their daily livelihood. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire. Initial suspicion points to a possible electrical short circuit, although officials said the cause will be confirmed only after a detailed probe.
