Patna: Panic gripped Chandni Market, the city’s biggest electrical and lighting market near Patna Junction under Kotwali police station, on Friday after thick smoke began filling the building, sending more than 1,000 shopkeepers and customers running towards the exits. No one was injured.The fire broke out in a warehouse above the third floor of the building. A temporary corrugated-sheet structure had been erected on the upper portion and was being used to store electronic gadgets. Preliminary information suggests a short circuit may have triggered the blaze.As smoke spread through the building, people rushed out. Local shopkeepers alerted the fire brigade, following which several fire tenders reached the spot. Firefighters worked to prevent the flames from spreading to adjoining shops and other portions of the building.The operation was challenging as the warehouse was packed with electrical and electronic goods, which fuelled the fire. After nearly three hours of firefighting, the blaze was brought under control, but the warehouse and goods stored inside it were gutted.District fire officer Abhishek Kumar said, “Fire tenders reached the location soon after the information was received. Access to the building was difficult because the lane leading to it was very narrow, which hampered firefighting operations. The extent of the financial loss has not yet been assessed.”Deepak Kumar, who worked at the warehouse, said, “Employees were working when people suddenly started shouting that a fire had broken out.”He said they escaped from the building and suspected that the fire had started due to a short circuit.
