A major fire broke out in Raipur's Telibandha area in the early hours of Wednesday, destroying four commercial establishments, including the popular Octopus Bar, and several parked vehicles. Firefighters battled the flames for nearly seven hours before bringing the blaze under control.

According to police, the fire started around 1 am in a hardware shop located near Octopus Bar. Within minutes, the flames spread rapidly to adjoining establishments, triggering panic in the area. Despite intermittent rainfall, the fire intensified due to the combustible materials stored inside the hardware store.

As soon as the incident was reported, the Fire and Emergency Services Department rushed 13 fire tenders to the spot. Firefighters worked throughout the night to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings and eventually managed to control the fire by early Wednesday morning.

Telibandha police station in-charge Ajay Jha said the initial assessment suggests the blaze originated inside the hardware shop before engulfing Octopus Bar and two other commercial establishments. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and a detailed investigation has been initiated.

Several vehicles parked outside the affected shops were also completely destroyed in the incident. Thick smoke continued to billow from the damaged buildings for several hours even after the flames were brought under control.

People staying at a nearby hotel had a narrow escape after the fire spread towards the building. Guests rushed out of their rooms to safety, leaving behind their belongings as the flames intensified. No casualties or serious injuries were reported, although property damage is believed to be substantial.

Local business owners rushed to the site after receiving information about the incident. Many found their establishments severely damaged by the fire. Owners said they had little time to save goods as the flames spread rapidly across the row of shops.

Fire department officials continued cooling operations on Wednesday morning to prevent any possibility of reignition. The damaged structures have been cordoned off, and officials are assessing the extent of losses.

Police and fire officials are examining the scene and collecting evidence to determine whether the fire was caused by an electrical fault, combustible material, or any other reason. A detailed damage assessment will be carried out once the investigation is completed.

The incident has once again raised concerns over fire safety measures in commercial areas of Raipur, particularly where hardware stores and other establishments dealing with inflammable materials operate in close proximity.