{
  "id": 13312299,
  "title": "Bhopal Fire Safety Crisis Deepens As New Market, Chowk Bazaar Lack Working Hydrants For A Decade",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/bhopal-fire-safety-crisis-deepens-as-new-market-chowk-bazaar-lack",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T02:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-fire-safety-crisis-deepens-as-new-market-chowk-bazaar-lack-working-hydrants-for-a-decade"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nearly a decade after fire hydrant projects began in two Bhopal markets, both areas still lack functional systems to combat fire emergencies. This was highlighted during a major blaze in New Market on Thursday that destroyed five shops and resulted in estimated losses of Rs 3 crore. The fire started around 2:45 pm in a Chhole-Bhature shop and quickly spread to nearby establishments, including a hotel and a clothing shop. Firefighting resources from Mata Mandir sub-fire station took over 35 minutes to reach the scene due to locked gates and road encroachments.\n\nThe Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) had planned to install a fire hydrant system in New Market at an estimated cost of Rs 25 lakh around a decade ago. Despite New Market being incorporated into the Smart City project, the hydrant proposal remained stalled between the BMC and Smart City administration. The firefighting department is now contemplating renewed efforts to install the system.\n\nIn contrast, the Chowk Bazaar market has a fire hydrant system installed by the BMC's water works department for Rs 22 lakh a decade ago. However, this system has never been tested since installation and is now non-functional, clogged with garbage due to poor maintenance. A test scheduled for March 2025 was postponed due to a lack of cooperation from the water works department.\n\nUrban planning expert Dr. Jagdish Singh explained that hydrant systems provide direct water access through pipelines, enabling firefighters to respond swiftly in congested markets without needing to travel to distant water sources. BMC fire officer Saurabh Patel stated that hydrant systems are mandatory in high-rise buildings and are routinely audited. The BMC's additional commissioner, Tanmay V Sharma, acknowledged the need for functional hydrants in market areas and assured that the Chowk Bazaar system would soon be operational. He also mentioned that the corporation would consider installing similar systems in other markets.",
  "summary": "Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Nearly 10 years after fire hydrant projects were initiated in Chowk Bazaar and New Market, both markets remain without functional systems to deal with fire emergencies. The lack of preparedness was exposed during Thursday's massive fire in New Market, which gutted five shops and caused estimated losses of Rs 3 crore. The fire broke out around 2:45 pm at a 'Chhole-Bhature'…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}