Patna: Despite the strict measures imposed by the district administration, there was excessive bursting of fireworks during Diwali. The smell of gunpowder permeated the air, and asthma patients, the elderly, and children were seen coughing and struggling amidst the thick black smoke.
In the meantime, incidents of fire broke out at eight locations in four police station areas of the Patna City subdivision, resulting in damages exceeding ₹70 lakh.
The fire brigade team, led by Fire Officer Gayanand Singh, was kept busy extinguishing fires from the night of Diwali until Friday morning (1st November). A total of 20 fire engines, both large and small, were deployed to combat the blazes. Fortunately, only goods were lost in the significant fires that erupted at various sites.
During the efforts to minimize the damage caused by these fire incidents—primarily ignited by sparks from firecrackers—unity among people of all religions and communities was evident. Residents joined together to help extinguish the flames by pouring water from rooftops, walls, and balconies.
The incidents of fire recorded at eight locations were as follows:
Incident 1: A toy shop caught fire on Thursday (31st October) evening in Hari Mandir lane under Chowk police station. Thousands of rupees worth of toys stored in the shop, which was located in an old vacant house, were reduced to ashes in no time. Local citizens assisted significantly in extinguishing the fire by connecting hoses to the water supply.
Incident 2: Near Math Laxmanpur Koyari Tola Devi Sthan in the Alamganj police station area, two furniture factories and one almirah factory caught fire around midnight on Thursday. The furniture was burnt to ashes. Fire Officer Gayanand Singh reported that these three factories belonged to Mohammad Nasir, Mohammad Ekram, and Shamim Ansari, and the fire was caused by sparks from fireworks.
Incident 3: Two sofa factories caught fire due to firecracker sparks near Neem Tal Peeli Kothi on Dargah Road in the Sultanganj police station area around 12:40 am on Thursday. Dozens of sofas and other items, both finished and in progress, were lost. Nearby residents continuously poured water on the flames using tanks and motors until the fire was brought under control.
Incident 4: A decoration shop located in Machharhatta of the Khajekala police station area caught fire on Thursday night around 11 pm. Fire Officer Gayanand Singh, who arrived at the scene, reported that the goods in Mukesh Kumar’s shop were burnt due to sparks from firecrackers. The fire was extinguished with the help of two large and one small fire engine.
Incident 5: Centering wood stored on the roof of a house in Saheb Colony under the Sultanganj police station caught fire. Fire Officer Singh noted that all centering wood on Mohammad Moinul’s roof was burnt due to sparks from firecrackers. The fire was extinguished with the assistance of a fire engine due to the narrow access to the house.
Incident 6: A fire broke out in junk stored near Ambedkar Colony in the Sultanganj police station area around 11 pm on Thursday. Local residents attempted to extinguish the flames, which were ultimately brought under control with the help of a small fire engine. The fire department reported that the fire was caused by firecracker sparks.
Incident 7: On Friday (1st November) evening, a fire erupted in a warehouse containing cloth, cotton, and mauri-making materials on the first floor of a house in Mauri Lane of Khajekala. The fire was controlled with the assistance of a fire engine.
Incident 8: A junk shop located in Choa Lal Lane of Khajekala police station caught fire on Friday evening. Fire Officer Gayanand Singh reported that water was supplied by connecting eight hoses from three fire engines.
