More than 100 shops were reduced to ashes at two places in Baleswar and Sambalpur district, respectively, due to fire mishaps during Diwali night on Sunday.
A major fire engulfed a vegetable market at Golbazar in Sambalpur at late night damaging around 100 shops. Huge stocks of vegetables were destroyed in the blaze.
Getting information, Fire Services personnel rushed to the spot and doused the flames. No casualties were reported in the incident.
Though the exact reason behind the mishap is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected that fire broke out from a lamp which was lit near a shop on the occasion of Diwali. Later, local administrative officials rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.
In a similar incident, shoes worth around Rs 3 lakh were gutted in a fire mishap at a footwear shop at Khantapada Bazaar under Bahanaga block of Baleswar district. Electrical short circuit led to the outbreak of fire, reports said.