Ludhiana, May 24 -- Panic gripped the Sunder Nagar area on Friday morning after a massive fire broke out at a hosiery and packaging shop, Vishal Traders, reducing stock worth lakhs to ashes. The fire department officials said that there was no loss of life or injury, as the shop was closed at the time of the incident.

The fire, suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit, broke out around 9.30 am. According to fire department officials, flames had already engulfed the shop by the time fire tenders reached the scene.

The shop, located in a densely populated commercial area, posed a major challenge for fire personnel due to its proximity to other establishments. According to eyewitnesses, panic spread quickly among local shopkeepe...