A massive fire at a fish market in Cuttack destroyed more than 30 shops, damaged a bank branch
June 1, 2026: major fire broke out at a fish market in the Press Chhak area of Cuttack, Odisha, during the early hours of Monday, destroying more than 30 shops and damaging a bank branch located in the same building. According to fire service officials, the blaze started around 2 am and spread rapidly through the congested market after a paint godown allegedly caught fire due to a suspected short circuit.
The flames first engulfed the fish market on the ground floor before spreading to the upper levels, including a branch of Bank of India. Traders claimed that cash worth ₹50 lakh to ₹60 lakh, along with business records and payment funds, was destroyed in the incident. Around 17 fish traders reportedly suffered extensive losses as deep freezers, fish stock, equipment, and ledger books were reduced to ashes.
More than 10 fire tenders and over 25 firefighters were deployed to control the blaze, but narrow lanes and dense smoke made rescue and firefighting operations difficult. Officials said inflammable materials such as paints and colours stored inside the building accelerated the spread of the fire. Emergency teams had to break parts of the structure to gain access, while authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage.