Motihari: A devastating fire broke out late Tuesday night at Narayanpur Market in the Rajepur police station area of Motihari, gutting around a dozen shops and leaving at least 7 to 8 people injured. The blaze reportedly started due to a gas leak at a snack (Bhuja) shop owned by Ram Roop Sah, which rapidly intensified following a gas cylinder explosion.
According to eyewitnesses, the explosion shook the entire area and flames quickly spread to nearby shops, most of which were built using straw and other flammable materials. Shopkeepers and local residents scrambled to douse the flames before fire brigade units arrived. Several fire tenders worked for hours to bring the situation under control.
Among the injured are Hakim Khan and others, who have been admitted to nearby private hospitals. Officials have confirmed that the condition of some injured remains critical.
The district administration visited the site early Wednesday and assured all possible assistance to the victims. Relief and compensation efforts are expected to begin soon.
“We lost everything,” said shopkeeper Shatrughan Prasad, one of many whose businesses were reduced to ashes. “All our goods were destroyed. Our entire livelihood was invested in these shops.”
Other affected shopkeepers include Manmohan Prasad, Laxman Sah, and Meghnath Sah. The estimated loss runs into several lakhs of rupees.
