Fire at commercial complex in Raipur city

Over a dozen shops were destroyed in a fire at a multi-storey commercial complex here today.

There were no reports of anyone getting injured, police said.

The fire broke out this afternoon in a first-floor shop in the rear portion of Ravi Bhavan complex at Jaistambh Chowk in the heart of the city.

Superintendent of police Sanjeev Shukla told PTI that the complex has around 500 shops, mostly selling electronic goods, perfumes and plastic items.

"Over a dozen shops were gutted. Efforts are on to douse the flames," he said.

Apart from fire brigade and police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel were also pressed into service for fire-fighting, Shukla said.
 

Fire engines from Bhilai and other neighbouring cities were also called in.

Some shops were vacated to prevent spread of fire. Exact cause of the fire was not immediatelyknown but officials suspect short-circuit to be the reason.