Chaos erupted at the popular Sector 12 Sunday Market this morning when a sudden fire swept through a section of the bazaar, reducing approximately 20 stalls to ashes. Fortunately, despite the heavy weekend rush of shoppers, no casualties or major injuries were reported.
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The Incident: The fire started around 11:30 AM in a stall selling hosiery and winter garments. Due to the proximity of the stalls and the presence of combustible materials like woolens and plastic, the flames spread rapidly. Within minutes, a thick plume of black smoke was visible across the Sector 12 skyline.
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The Cause: Preliminary investigations by the fire department point toward a short circuit in an overhead electrical wire that was illegally tapped to provide power to one of the temporary stalls. “The load on the temporary wiring likely exceeded its capacity, triggering a spark that ignited the fabric,” said a senior fire official.
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Rescue & Firefighting:
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Response Time: Five fire tenders from the Sector 15 and NIT fire stations reached the spot within 15 minutes.
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Controlled Panic: Shopkeepers and shoppers showed presence of mind, immediately evacuating the narrow lanes. Local youths helped move several LPG cylinders away from the fire zone, preventing a much larger disaster.
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Containment: It took firefighters nearly an hour to bring the blaze under control and another 30 minutes for cooling operations to ensure no hidden embers remained.
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Losses Incurred: The 20 gutted stalls primarily sold garments, footwear, and household items. The affected vendors, many of whom are small-scale traders, have reported individual losses ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakhs. “I had just stocked up for the New Year rush. Everything I owned is now charcoal,” said one of the tearful stall owners.
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Administrative Action: The local police and municipal authorities have cordoned off the affected area. An official inquiry has been launched to check for safety violations in the market. The District Administration is expected to review the “temporary electricity connection” policy for weekly markets to prevent such recurrences.
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Traffic Impact: The Sector 12 main road witnessed heavy traffic congestion as onlookers gathered near the site. Traffic police were deployed to clear the route for emergency vehicles.
