Fire officials said the fire started late in the night and spread rapidly through wooden stacks and sawdust-filled sheds. Flames were visible from afar, and train movement on the nearby track was slowed for safety. Firefighters battled for hours before bringing the blaze under control.
This is not the first such incident. Fires have been reported almost every year, including a major one in 2016 that required 36 fire tenders and four hours to extinguish. Despite repeated warnings, authorities have failed to shift the market out of the city center.
Plans to relocate the Timber Market to Chhota Ratibad, about 30 km away, have been stalled for 18 months. The new 18-acre site was allocated under the Bhopal Metro project, with ₹5.85 crore sanctioned for infrastructure work. However, progress has been slow—only road leveling and a water tank base have been completed.
Officials admit the delay in developing basic facilities has kept the relocation project in limbo. The market’s presence has also obstructed work on the second phase of the Metro’s Orange Line between Subhash Nagar and Karond.
After inspecting the site on Monday, Collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh said efforts are being expedited. “Development at Chhota Ratibad is underway, and the market will be shifted soon,” he assured. Residents, however, remain anxious as another fire could erupt at any time.
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