Chandigarh, Oct. 22 -- A massive fire broke out at a storage unit near a gas godown in Shastri Nagar, Manimajra, around midnight on Tuesday, creating panic among local residents. The fire, which started around 12 AM, engulfed a storage area filled with cardboard, sacks, and other inflammable materials.

The proximity of the fire to a gas godown raised fears of a potential explosion, prompting an immediate response from the fire and emergency services department. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was sparked by crackers burst nearby during Diwali. Sparks from the fireworks are believed to have ignited dry leaves and stored cardboard, quickly spreading due to the combustible materials, officials said.

Six fire tenders were d...