A massive fire broke out in Kanpur’s Bakarganj Market on Wednesday morning, destroying hundreds of shops and triggering panic among residents.
The fire broke out at 4.30 am and local residents immediately alerted the fire brigade.
Several fire tenders were pressed into service, but high flames and dense smoke made firefighting operations difficult, reports said.
The blaze caused significant property damage, with over a hundred temporary shops reduced to ashes.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Videos circulating on social media showed thick smoke billowing from the site, and firefighters struggling to contain the flames.
Kanpur: A massive fire breaks out in Bakarganj Market under Babupurwa police station area, burning hundreds of shops. Thick smoke and rising flames cause panic in the area as fire brigade teams work to control the blaze. pic.twitter.com/OGQBxj8JwP
— IANS (@ians_india) November 12, 2025
Many shopkeepers estimate their collective losses at around Rs 50-60 lakh.
“Everything has been destroyed. My shop had goods worth Rs 13-14 lakh. I suspect foul play; it’s hard to believe that all the shops could burn so easily. I want justice,” Usha Rathore, a shopkeeper, told IANS news agency.
In a similar incident on Tuesday, a major fire broke out at the Anandeshwar Cold Storage in Bara, Kanpur Dehat, destroying large quantities of potatoes stored by farmers.
According to reports, the lack of a rear exit at the cold storage hindered the firefighting operations.
