Fourteen shops were gutted in a fire that broke out at Battala market here on Thursday, a fire officer said.
Officer-in charge of Agartala Fire Station, Bhajan Dey said they received a call at 4.20 am, from a pedestrian who had spotted the fire early morning on Thursday.
Seven fire tenders were rushed to the market to douse the blaze, he said.
No one was injured in the incident as the fire broke out in the early hours when the market remains closed, he said.
The prominent market at Battala houses shops that sell items such as garments, groceries, fruits, vegetables and fish.
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"It took about two hours for the fire fighters to douse the flames. Fourteen shops were gutted and the initial damage was estimated at Rs 40 lakh," Dey told reporters.
A short circuit might have triggered the fire, the fire officer said the exact cause of the blaze was being ascertained.
Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb visited the market and said that the losses would be compensated from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
"We have decided to pay Rs 25,000 to the owners of five shops who suffered the maximum damage and Rs 15,000 to the others," Deb told reporters.
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