Chandigarh, March 23: A fierce fire broke out in a combined electrical and crockery store in Phase II of the Industrial Area on Monday, leading to the mobilization of multiple fire tenders. The department was alerted to the situation shortly after 9:00 am as smoke began billowing from the commercial complex, visible from several blocks away.
The cooling operations were complicated by the presence of highly flammable plastic goods and specialized electrical machinery. Preliminary findings by the fire safety team pointed toward a short circuit as the probable cause of the accident. Local business owners noted that the fire spread with alarming speed, jumping from the crockery department to the main electrical storage area within minutes.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a March 18 fire in Sector 22, where a mobile market shop suffered extensive damage across two floors. In that instance, it took more than four hours for crews to secure the building. Regarding Monday’s incident, officials asserted that the interior layout of the shop and the nature of the goods stored inside created significant hurdles for the first responders.
“Firefighters faced difficulties due to the items stored in the shop,” the department stated, noting that a full investigation into the safety protocols of the building is now underway. While the total financial loss is still being evaluated, the fire has underscored growing concerns among traders regarding aging electrical infrastructure in the industrial zones.
