Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
A massive fire broke out at Azad Chowk early Thursday morning, allegedly due to an electrical short circuit, reducing 18 shops and a house to ashes. The blaze, which started around 4.30 am, has left small traders grappling with losses amounting to lakhs.
Azad Chowk market, known for high-value furniture sales, witnesses significant daily transactions. The fire, which originated near a transformer by the local graveyard, quickly spread to Kaleem Bhai’s furniture shop and engulfed nearby stores. Many of these shops housed flammable materials like wood and upholstery, accelerating the destruction.
Firefighters arrived promptly, with the first unit from the Cidco Fire Brigade reaching at 5.38 am. As the flames intensified, additional teams from Padampura, Chikalthana, Nakshatrawadi and other teams from city joined the operation. A total of nine fire tenders were deployed, and after nearly five hours, the fire was contained by 10.35 am.
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire while urging shop owners to follow fire safety protocols. Locals revealed that a similar fire broke out in the same area seven years ago due to faulty MSEDCL transformers. Despite that incident, no substantial repairs were made to the electrical infrastructure, raising concerns over safety negligence.
Estimated loss
According to PI Dilip Gangurde, the total damage is estimated at nearly Rs 50 lakh. Additionally, two houses behind the shops also suffered losses, including damage to air conditioners, water tanks, and doors.
Businesses affected
Among the businesses completely gutted were Royal Steel (Imtiaz Ahmed), Almas Furniture (Ayub Khan), Aurangabad Furniture (Kaleem Sheikh), and Armaan Furniture (Azmat Khan). Other affected shops include Shoaib Furniture, Danish Furniture, Moin Furniture, A.K. Furniture, Deshmukh Furniture, and Afam Furniture. Hi-Fi Furniture, Navkfal Furniture, Rehan Furniture, Raj Furniture, Royal Furniture, and Munwar K. Sagar Trading Co. also suffered total losses. Additionally, Washing Car Center (Ismail Shah) was destroyed, further adding to the financial devastation.