Vishal Mega Mart in Flames Again: Ambala Outlet Ablaze
Second fire in three months raises safety concerns.
A massive fire erupted at a Vishal Mega Mart outlet in Haryana’s Ambala on Tuesday morning, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and prompting a swift response from firefighting teams. The blaze, reported around 9 AM, engulfed the popular retail store, with flames and smoke visible from a distance as fire tenders rushed to the scene. Authorities are working to control the fire, but no casualties have been reported so far, according to the latest updates from ANI.
This marks the second fire incident at a Vishal Mega Mart store in just three months, raising serious concerns about safety protocols at the retail chain’s outlets. On July 4, a devastating fire at a Vishal Mega Mart subsidiary, Airplaza Retail Holdings, in Delhi’s Karol Bagh claimed two lives, including a 25-year-old UPSC aspirant trapped in an elevator. That tragedy, attributed to a suspected short circuit, prompted the company to issue a statement on July 5 expressing deep sorrow and pledging full cooperation with the Delhi Police’s ongoing investigation, which includes an FIR to determine the fire’s cause.
Eyewitnesses in Ambala described a chaotic scene as the fire rapidly spread, with glass panels at the store’s entrance shattering due to intense heat. “The smoke was so thick, and we heard the glass cracking before the fire tenders arrived,” said a local shopkeeper. The fire brigade’s prompt response prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings, but the incident disrupted normal activity in the bustling commercial area. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with preliminary reports suggesting a possible electrical fault, though authorities have yet to confirm this.
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The recurrence of such incidents has sparked outrage among locals and on social media, with many questioning Vishal Mega Mart’s safety measures. The company, which operates over 600 stores across India, has not yet released an official statement on the Ambala fire. However, the tragedy in Karol Bagh led to calls for stricter fire safety audits, with an NGO filing a plea in the Delhi High Court for a court-monitored probe into alleged negligence by the store’s management and civic authorities.
As firefighting operations continue in Ambala, the incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety standards in commercial spaces. With two major fires in such a short span, Vishal Mega Mart faces growing scrutiny over its compliance with fire safety regulations, and authorities are under pressure to ensure accountability to prevent further loss of life or property.
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