Patna: A fire broke out early on Tuesday at a utsav hall and an adjoining scrap warehouse in Patna City, destroying property and triggering panic among local residents, though no casualties were reported.
The blaze started at around 6.30am in a scrap warehouse on Shaheed Bhagat Singh Path in Bajrangpuri, within the Alamganj police station area, and quickly spread to the nearby Chandramani Utsav Hall. Thick smoke and flames could be seen from a distance, prompting alarm in the surrounding neighbourhood.
Fire officials said around a dozen fire engines from the Patna City and Kankarbagh fire stations were dispatched to the site after an emergency call. Firefighters worked for several hours before bringing the blaze under control.
An employee of the Chandramani Utsav Hall said no function was underway at the time of the incident, although the venue had been booked for later in the day. The early morning timing of the fire helped avert any loss of life, officials said.
Gayanand Singh, a fire station officer present at the scene, said the fire had been largely extinguished and cooling operations were continuing. “Water is being poured on the debris, which is also being removed using a JCB to prevent any remaining sparks or the risk of a secondary fire,” he said.
The fire gutted the front portion of the festival hall, destroying a generator and other valuables. Several goods stored inside the warehouse were also reduced to ashes. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Authorities said an investigation has been launched by the administration and the fire department to ascertain how the blaze started. Officials added that timely action by firefighters prevented what could have been a major disaster in the densely populated area.
