In yet another tragic fire incident at Furniture Market on Chandigarh – Mohali border in Sector 53, 8 shops and goods worth more than Rs. 1 Crore have been destroyed. The fire was so strong that 8 shops that came under its influence have been converted into ashes. Fire brigades arrived within minutes but it took firemen 2 hours to control the fire. According to eye-witnesses, the flames were so high that even the eucalyptus trees just behind the shops also caught fire. No loss of life was reported.
How the Fire Started?
The fire broke out at one shop around 9:40 PM at night and soon spread to adjacent furniture shops. The cause of fire is not known yet but eye-witnesses said that they heard a blast just before the fire broke out. However, some things used at furniture market like thinner, varnish, foam etc. in some shops helped the fire to spread at a larger scale.
Over 100 firemen and 12 fire brigades were pressed into service to control the fire. 2 fire brigades were called from Mohali while the rest 8 were from Chandigarh. The first fire brigade reached the spot in 7 minutes. The traffic on the road was diverted and it hundreds of people including furniture market shop owners, workers gathered on the spot. Some shops were still open at the time when fire broke out.
Previous Fire Incidents at Furniture Market
This is the 8th fire incident at this Furniture Market on Chandigarh – Mohali border in the last 16 years. It means that a major fire incident happens at this market after every 2 years.
A fire had broke out in year 2014 that destroyed 5 shops and then again in year 2015 destroying 8 shops. This time in year 2016 it is again the same story as more than 8 shops have been destroyed due to fire. Here are some major fire incidents along with number of shops affected due to fire in the past.
Year 2016 (14 September) = 8 Shops destroyed.
Year 2015: 8 shops gutted in fire
Year 2014: 5 shops destroyed
Year 2012: 22 shops caught fire
Year 2009: 8 shops destroyed
Year 2002: 18 shops caught fire
Year 2001: 10 shops destroyed
Year 2000: 20 shops caught fire.
Such cases of fire at Chandigarh furniture market on the road dividing sector 53-54 are increasing year on year and the concerned authorities should help the traders in some way or the other so that such incidents can be prevented.
Date: 15 September, 2016.
Image Credits: Keshav Singh (HT).
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