High-level probe ordered into Cuttack shopping mall fire

Bhubaneswar: Fire Services DG BK Sharma on Sunday ordered a high-level inquiry into the massive fire that broke out at a shopping mall in Cuttack.

Three teams have been formed to carry out the investigation, said sources.

Crores of properties reduced to ashes after a major fire broke out at a shopping mall (City Life and Gita Fashion) in Badambabdi area of Cuttack on Sunday. The fire occurred at the garment showroom and engulfed five more adjacent shops.

About 100 firefighters and eight fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze.

The fire services personnel confirmed that the shopping mall didn’t obtain fire safety certificate.

Meanwhile, senior Fire Service officials said the inquiry is going on to find out the exact cause of the fire.

No report of injury or loss of life so far, said sources.

Amid concerns over fire risks in commercial high-rises, the Fire Service Department has recently started State-wide auditing shopping malls across to assess their safety status.

As part of the drive, teams of fire-fighting officials conducted raids at hotels and shopping malls in Cuttack and reviewed their fire preparedness.