A portion of the iconic Russell Market, which was part of the growth of Bangalore's Cantonment area, was ravaged in a major fire that broke out in the vegetable section in the early hours of Saturday.
The Russell Market Traders' Association said the inferno consumed 174 shops in the 85-year-old structure, one of the famed landmarks in Shivajinagar.
According to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials, 123 shops were gutted resulting in a loss of Rs. 1.2 crore.
The fire, believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit on the ground floor around 3.30 a.m., lasted till 7 a.m. Fortunately, there was no loss of life. The vegetable, fruit and flower market on the ground and first floors, as well as the line of toy and knick-knack stores near the entrance were completely destroyed.
The fire was noticed by helpers who slept in the shops. As the flames spread, they fled the market and alerted the police. Sagayanathan, who was sleeping in his shop on the first floor of the complex, said that around 3.30 a.m., there was a fluctuation in the power supply. “Soon, there was smoke all around, and an overwhelming stench. We ran outside to find that one side of the market was ablaze,” he said.
Twenty-eight fire tenders fought the blaze. Authorities at the scene said the fire was probably sparked by an electrical short circuit.
B.G. Chengappa, Director of the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services, said, “The place had no safety arrangements of any sort. All the shops were tightly packed together, with not even a single extinguisher for the entire complex.”
Over 2,000 people work in the 480 shops in the two-acre market complex, which is visited by one lakh people on an average daily, said Mohammed Idreez, general secretary of the traders' association.
In the slurry of ash, half-burnt vegetables and ruined furniture lies 65-year-old Mustaq Sharief's livelihood for more than half a century. “The shop was set up by my grandfather when the market was commissioned. I have been here since my childhood. We lost goods worth over Rs. 80,000,” he said.
Like Mr. Sharief, most traders in the market had inherited the business. Sundar Raj, who owns a toy store there, said the nearly 90-year-old business now faces an uncertain future. “I lost goods worth over Rs. 2.5 lakh in the fire. Being a disabled person, this is the only trade I know,” he said.
With the roof showing signs of caving in, and steel girders and columns, some of them wilted in the heat of the blaze, exposed, BBMP engineers who inspected the structure said the complex would take at least two years to rebuild.
Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, who inspected the market in the evening, announced a compensation of Rs. 50,000 for the affected traders. “Additional compensation will be given from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund after the damage is assessed,” he promised.
On the reconstruction of the building, he said the façade would remain unchanged. “As it is a heritage building, all care will be taken to preserve the exterior. And, till the market is restored, the traders will be temporarily rehabilitated.”
Keywords: fire accident, Russell Market, Bangalore fire
It is really a shame to see such an iconic structure gutted by what is obviously a lack of proper maintenance and safety inspections. I grew up in Bangalore in the 50's and would visit the market with my grandfather at least weekly, shopping for vegetables, flowers and butter from the stall in the centre. I sincerely hope that the authorities do everything to preserve the architecture and the 'spirit' of Russell Market, and not just keep the facade and build a Hi-Rise commercial tower like they are doing all along MG Road.
I know a lot of friends and indian colleagues who work with me in Australia will feel the same.
I would like to convey my deepest sympathies and condolences to the shop keepers. I have my childhood days spent in regular visit to Russell Market for purchasing vegetables, fruits, groceries, and toys with my father. Russel Market is an important landmark of Cantonment. My request to the BBMP is to incorporate the same existing design and build the structure with modern amenities and regain the lost glory.
I am a resident at Chennai. I used to visit Bangalore once in 5
years. I always used to visit above market and though I am 73 years
old, but I used to visit each shop as if I am 10 year boy. That much
charming this market had. No excuse telling every fire due to short
circuit. Fire Department must issue licnse every year only if all
shops are protected by fire extinguishers. Otherwise rent must not be
paid to owners.
Its really sad to see whats happened to the iconic market of bangalore; hope BBMP will take all safety measures to stop any future disaster while reconstructing it; I really feel sad for the people whose shops have been destroyed specially loaders and small time vendors whose life will be effected for sometime till its ready to occupy; Hope our so called MLA Mr. Baig will take all intiative for smooth reopenning with out much politics and unwanted invities.
INDIA needs Building Codes, Fire Codes and Disaster Management Training and Drills. All the buildings need to have Fire Sprinklers and I doubt Indian Officials have no idea about these concepts. It is very sad that these vendors and customers are the real Victims of this tragedy. I am not what will come in its place. Bengaluru and Karnataka Government is busy in infighting and does not have time for preserving good British Built structures.....
No matter whatever the modern fire detection system presuming as existed at the now gutted Russell Market would have helped it from going down. Its sheer organised arson, which could be either from the government or vested interests, since the location of Russell Market is to vie for and worth in hundreds of crores of rupees. When these ministers can allott government plots to whoever needed at higher prices, they will not hesitate to organise an arson. My sympathies to the poor vendors and families. Russell Market will never be the same. Its gone forever from its present occupants. Look for a modern multiplex in a couple of years at the place where Russell Market was.
I can't believe that this is a simple fire caused by a short circuit.
Too many times have we, in Indian cities, seen sabotage or arson
causing fires so that certain expensive real estate can be taken over
(or bought at throw-away prices)for business purposes. The poor
vendors and merchants have lost their livelihood but I am positive
that there are some people rejoicing in this tragedy. I am sorry, but
in Bangalore, anything can happen for money..I doubt very much if any
serious enquiry will take place about the various aspects of this
tragedy. In this city, the powers-that-be are rarely bothered about
the fact that buildings/structures like the Russel Market should have
been considered a heritage building and looked after in appropriate
ways. It is so sad to realise that the authorities, both politicians
and bureaucrats in this beautiful state just couldn't be bothered
about losing structures like this but are only interested in making
money from any situation. Just wait and see..
This is one of the most terrible things to happen to Bangalore which
is already splitting at the sides! Russel Market was one of the last
standing bastions of a beautiful,charming town. I remember dropping in
at Russel Market as a child, to buy asters for my Grandmother. Ever
since I moved to Bangalore, I've gone there every other weekend. I
loved the feeling of abundance, the graciousness of the vendors, the
amity, the squalor...everything! It's appalling that progressive governments did nothing to preserve this heritage building. Now that it has been destroyed, I do hope that the vendors and their auxiliary team will be compensated for the loss of livelihood and that arrangements will be made to provide them with alternate space to continue their trade.
This is a great loss for all the vendors and owners of shops at the market and for Bangalore. I would like to convey my deepest sympathies and condolences to the shop keepers. They must be given the encouragement and help to ride out this calamity as this responsibility lies squarely on the City Officials. Also this should be treated as a fore warning for other old, crumbling buildings. Such premises should be inspected and fire prevention detectors and alarms and spprinkler systems added. Such a negligent acts are in-excuseable.
An Advisory Board should be set up immidiately.
May be the market was not doing well commercially. Lot of such dense markets even in Mumbai catch fire recently. Short circuit is always blamed. I think the downturn is here to stay and lot of people are in caught in between massive inflation caused by RBI but no growth in business. I feel sorry for them.
One should ensure that this place is rebuilt largely as it was, with no more density than it had. One hopes unscruplulous developers working with similarly inclined Corporation officials do not look for that quick buck.
It seems India is in a transition stage of development. Unable to do away with what we have in the traditional line and at the same time unable to catch up with the emerging needs in the perspective of developed nations. Necessarily this stage of transition will prevail for minimum few decades, to come out of the shell. Take the case of dealing with natural calamities, access to emergency aids etc.,it takes its own toll. In short the administrative preparedness to deal with such eventualities still needs drastic revamping.
If we take it as given that all safety precautions like photoelectric fire detection system was in existence and alarm was on and fire prevention measures were in top condition, there is one more reason which the authorities like the Kudankulam Nuke designers have ignored to the risk of that building being set ablaze by the giant surges of forcing functions imposed on the crust of the earth by the dams of the world because of daily changing total reservoir contents amounting to billions of cubic meters a day.
I agree with Mr Kirubhakaran. BBMP should rebuild the entire complex in record time and shop vendors must be given their respective shops along with some adequate compensation to restructure their trade. The Russel Market is the iconic landmark of Bangalore.
It is unfortunate that I reside 200 meters away from Russell Market was aware of the blaze only by the live News channel in television at 07:00am, Could see Bellows and bellows of Smoke with the Fire Brigade Sirens blaring till 10:00am.
I have my childhood and Youth days spent in regular visit to Russell Market for varied reasons like : buy toys, seeds,mutton,Fish,Onions,tomatos and not the miss out on the
Com tee( Christmas Eve) Decorations and sales of Cakes.
I'll be missing them now till the new structure comes up and hope they have the shops designed as the previous existed Market.
I feel tears of pain also comfort that some complex with better amineties will come soon.
My only request is not to displace the vendors as many illitrate depend on the market for their only source of INCOME(Livelihood).
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