Patna: A fire broke out at a girls’ hostel in Patna’s Buddha Colony on Tuesday, prompting a dramatic rescue operation that saved 13 students. The blaze, which authorities say was sparked by a traditional oil lamp (diya), took fire crews over 90 minutes to bring under control.
The incident occurred at Pankhudi Girls Hostel, located in Chakaram, where students were resting in their rooms on the upper floor of a G+3 building. According to district fire officer Manoj Nat, the fire started after a diya was left unattended in a makeshift wooden cabin partitioned within the room.
“There was extensive use of wood for partitions inside the room. Once the fire caught, it spread rapidly,” Nat said. “Six hydraulic fire engines were deployed to extinguish the flames. Thankfully, no lives were lost.”
The blaze destroyed personal belongings, including books and bedding, and left the room gutted. At the time of the incident, 15 girls were in the room, though all were safely evacuated. Hostel resident Neha Kumari confirmed that a diya had been lit and left unattended, sparking the fire.
Buddha Colony station house officer Sadanand Shah said the fire control room was alerted swiftly after the local police were informed. The prompt response helped prevent a major tragedy.
