JALANDHAR, October 21, 2026: A major late-night fire caused extensive damage to Bhola Milk Bar and Confectionery in Jalandhar’s Basti Sheikh area, destroying cold drinks, packaged food items and other stock kept inside the establishment. The shop owner has estimated the financial loss at around ₹8 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
Shopkeeper Saurav Bhullar said he and his younger brother had recently taken over the business and had invested significantly in fresh stock. According to him, hundreds of crates containing bottled water and cold drinks were stored in the rear portion of the shop, along with chips and other confectionery items.
The fire spread through the shop before it could be brought under control, leaving a substantial portion of the stock damaged. Bhullar said the loss includes both recently purchased material and stock that was already present at the establishment.
The incident has also triggered a dispute over the response of the fire brigade. Bhullar and members of his family alleged that repeated calls were made after the fire was noticed but that the emergency response was delayed. They claimed quicker intervention could have reduced the extent of the damage.
Fire officials have disputed that version. A leading fire officer who reached the scene said the team moved towards the location after receiving information and additional firefighting support was also called in as the blaze intensified.
According to the fire officer’s account, firecrackers were also present inside the shop, and some of them allegedly began bursting during the fire, making the situation more difficult to control. Whether the firecrackers were being stored lawfully and in what quantity, however, would require separate verification by the concerned authorities.
The precise cause of the blaze has not yet been conclusively established.
Members of the shopkeeper’s family have also raised suspicion over the circumstances in which the fire started. They pointed towards the rear side of the premises and expressed concern that some external interference may have taken place near a window.
There is currently no confirmed evidence establishing deliberate fire-setting, and the family’s suspicion remains an allegation. They have requested that police examine CCTV cameras installed in and around the area to determine whether anyone approached the shop before the fire broke out.
Investigators will also have to establish where the fire originated and whether an electrical fault, combustible material or any other factor contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.
The incident caused heavy damage to the business but no confirmed casualty was reported in the information available from the scene.
The shopkeeper has asked the administration to conduct a proper inquiry into both the cause of the fire and the response to the emergency. Meanwhile, the fire department’s version regarding its arrival and the alleged presence of firecrackers will also form an important part of any subsequent examination of the incident.
Further clarity is expected after CCTV footage, fire-scene evidence and statements from those present are examined.
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