According to officials, the fire originated in a furniture showroom and rapidly spread to an adjoining sawmill, engulfing at least three establishments located behind the railway tracks. The affected units include Bhopal Decoration and Anjum Bhai’s sawmill, both dealing in highly combustible materials such as wood and furniture.
During the firefighting operation, a wall of the sawmill collapsed, injuring four people, including two municipal corporation employees engaged in dousing the flames. Two local residents, identified as Junaid and Javed from Bagh Umrao Dulha, were also hurt when the shed collapsed twice amid rescue efforts. All the injured were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital, where they are reported to be out of danger.
Fire tenders from Bairagarh, Fatehgarh, Kabardkhana, Mata Mandir, and Kolar fire stations, along with vehicles from BHEL and the police, were deployed to control the blaze. Fire officials said the dense concentration of wooden stock and narrow access lanes made the operation particularly challenging.
Eyewitnesses said flames and thick smoke spread quickly through the market, causing panic in the surrounding area. “The fire spread within minutes, and the heat was intense,” said a local shop owner.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about fire safety in the timber market, especially as a similar fire had occurred at a nearby sawmill just two months ago. Authorities said a detailed investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess compliance with safety norms.
