Motihari/Patna: Three people, including two children, were killed after a major fire engulfed a wholesale shop in Motihari late on Friday night, officials said.
The incident took place in Barharwa Fateh Mohammad village under Dhaka block in East Champaran district.
According to local authorities, the blaze erupted around 12.30am and spread rapidly through the two-storey building, engulfing the entire structure within minutes.
Fire Burned For More Than Seven Hours
Fire department officials said several fire tenders were rushed to the spot after emergency calls were received from residents.
The flames were eventually brought under control after nearly seven and a half hours of firefighting operations.
Witnesses said the fire was so intense that flames could be seen from a considerable distance, with the building appearing “like a furnace” as it burned through the night.
Children And Worker Among Victims
The victims included two children of shop owner Rajkumar Sah and a shop worker identified as Prince Kumar.
Officials said three fire tenders continued operations for several hours before exhausting their onboard water supply.
Firefighters later drew water from a nearby well to contain the remaining flames.
By the time the blaze was extinguished, large quantities of groceries and other merchandise stored inside the wholesale shop had been completely destroyed.
Investigation Under Way
Police and district administration teams reached the site after the fire was brought under control and have begun an investigation into the incident.
Authorities said the exact cause of the fire was not immediately known.
Officials are currently assessing the scale of property damage caused by the blaze.
