A major fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon in a showroom complex in Sector 22-B, Chandigarh, sending shockwaves through one of the city’s busiest commercial hubs. Thick smoke quickly spread across the area, forcing shopkeepers, employees, and visitors to evacuate immediately.
The blaze reportedly started around 1:30 PM on the second floor, which houses several mobile shops and a photo lab. Employees working in these stores were quickly evacuated as smoke filled the building, preventing any casualties so far. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes, with people covering their faces and rushing to safety as visibility dropped.
Fire tenders from the Sector 17 fire station rushed to the scene, but their efforts were hampered by haphazard parking and encroachments in the market. Traders claimed that narrow pathways and vehicles parked randomly made it extremely difficult for emergency vehicles to reach the site. Shockingly, one fire tender reportedly got entangled in overhead wires, causing further delay.
Local traders have raised serious concerns over recurring fire incidents in the market. They allege that repeated warnings to authorities have gone unheeded. Complaints include illegal encroachments on pavements and roads, vendors occupying parking spaces and road medians, lack of proper fire safety systems, and poor maintenance and cleanliness. Gopal K. Wadhwa, president of the traders’ association, stated that authorities have failed to act despite multiple complaints.
The fire spread rapidly and engulfed the entire second floor of the building. Firefighters battled the blaze for hours, and officials are still assessing the internal damage. Initial reports suggest significant losses to mobile shops and accessory stores, though the full extent is yet to be confirmed.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire and are expected to review safety protocols in the area, especially given the repeated incidents flagged by traders.
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Key highlights include: a major fire in Chandigarh’s Sector 22-B, delayed fire tender access due to parking chaos, no reported casualties, serious concerns over safety lapses, and heavy damage to the second floor of the building.