Three furniture shops were destroyed in a major fire that broke out at Pul Patra area in the wee hours on Monday. Around three dozen fire tenders were pressed into service to pacify the fire.
The cause of the fire was reportedly due to breaking of high tension power supply line, near the shops at around 2 am and it took more than three hours to douse it.
Panic prevailed in the area after the fire broke out and the locals tried to pacify the fire by their own but failed in their attempt. later, the fire brigade was informed and subsequently fire tenders put out the fire.
The owner of Shakti Timber Trading, Mohd Iqbal, said that around 2.45 am the high tension power supply line broke and fell over Suraksha Timber Trading which is being run by Shahid who informed the fire brigade.
On receiving the information, a fire tender reached the spot but due to the lack of diesel in the vehicle, it was not able to pump water to douse the fire and the delay proved costly as the fire took massive shape engulfing the nearby furniture shop.
Iqbal alleged the fire tenders started arriving after SP North Arvind Saxena and ADM reached at the spot. The loss would be around `20-25 lakh, he added.
In-charge officer of fire brigade Sajid Khan claimed that major mishap was averted in major fire which erupted late in the night as a petrol pump is situated adjacent to shops which were engulfed in fire.
There were drums carrying oil at the petrol pump which could prove fatal as houses were situated behind the petrol pump.