Bhubaneswar, June 30 -- More than 15 shops were gutted after a massive fire broke out at Unit-2 market building in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on Tuesday morning, prompting a large-scale firefighting operation. Firefighters continued efforts to douse the blaze for several hours as thick smoke filled the building.

The fire reportedly broke out at around 5 am in one of the garment stores before spreading rapidly to adjoining shops. As the shops were interconnected and stocked with highly combustible materials, including polyester garments, the flames quickly engulfed a major portion of the market.

Fire personnel from the Secretariat and Kalpana Square fire stations were among the first to reach the spot after receiving information about the incid...