Chandigarh, Aug. 27 -- A massive fire broke out at a ready-made garments showroom in Sector 20-C, Chandigarh, on late Monday night, reducing goods worth nearly Rs.1.5 crore to ashes. The blaze, which started around 10 pm on Monday, was finally doused after an extensive 19-hour-long firefighting operation that involved 38 fire tenders.

According to officials, the fire originated on the ground floor of the three-storey Bimla Traders showroom, and quickly spread to the upper floors due to the highly flammable fabric stored inside. Within hours, stock on all three floors was destroyed.

Gulshan Kalra, Fire Station officer of Industrial Area said, "At the time of receiving the intimation, the shutters of the showroom were down and secured wit...