Bhubaneswar, Feb. 22 -- A massive fire broke out at a vegetable market in Badapadia area of Paradip late on Saturday night, reducing nearly 50 shops to ashes and causing extensive property damage estimated to be worth crores of rupees.

The blaze reportedly erupted between 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. and spread rapidly from one shop to another, engulfing the entire market within a short span of time. Most shopkeepers were asleep when the fire broke out, leaving them little time to respond. By the time the flames were noticed and emergency services alerted, the market had already suffered significant destruction.

Fire-fighting teams rushed to the spot, but almost all shops had been gutted by the time the fire was brought under control.

Upon rec...