A massive fire broke out late Wednesday night in Simri Bakhtiyarpur market, Saharsa district, completely gutting two cloth shops. The blaze resulted in a loss exceeding ₹16 lakh, causing severe financial damage to the shopkeepers. A short circuit is suspected to be the initial cause of the fire.

The incident occurred at Station Road in Simri Bakhtiyarpur, affecting Krishna Vastralaya, owned by Ravindra Sah, son of late Ramdev Sah, and another adjacent cloth shop. The fire rapidly intensified, engulfing both establishments. Local residents attempted to control the flames, but their efforts were insufficient due to the intensity of the blaze.

Upon receiving the information, the fire brigade arrived at the scene and, after considerable effort, managed to bring the fire under control. However, by then, millions of rupees worth of clothes, furniture, and other goods in both shops had been reduced to ashes. Ravindra Sah, owner of Krishna Vastralaya, estimated his loss at approximately ₹10 lakh, while the other shop also incurred damages exceeding ₹6 lakh. The total estimated loss from this incident is over ₹16 lakh.

The affected shopkeepers have appealed to the administration for compensation. Local traders have also urged the authorities to provide prompt assistance to the victims. The incident has created an atmosphere of fear in the market, with other shopkeepers expressing concerns about the security of their establishments. The police have taken cognizance of the matter and initiated an investigation.