Patna (Bihar) [India], June 29 (ANI): A massive fire that broke out at a warehouse under the Patna City Bypass police station area was brought under control after a 13-hour-long firefighting operation involving 27 fire engines, officials said on Monday.
Authorities added that the blaze is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, and the warehouse reportedly did not possess mandatory fire safety certification.
According to District Fire Officer Ritesh Pandey, the fire department received information about the incident at around 12:55 am, following which multiple fire tenders were immediately rushed to the site to control the rapidly spreading flames.
"At around 12:55 at night, we received information that a warehouse under Patna City Bypass police station had caught fire. Soon, our vehicles reached the spot. The blaze was severe, so we called in 21 fire engines and kept working," Pandey told ANI.
He further said that the operation had to be significantly scaled up due to the presence of highly flammable materials stored inside the warehouse, which intensified the fire and made firefighting efforts more challenging.
"As the warehouse contained oil, which is highly flammable, we later brought in more vehicles, 27 in total, to control the fire," he said.
Pandey added that the firefighting teams successfully prevented the flames from spreading to adjacent establishments, thereby averting a larger industrial disaster. Nearby structures included a bread factory and a battery warehouse, both of which were at risk due to the intensity of the blaze.
"Behind this warehouse is a bread factory, and next to it, a battery warehouse. We managed to save both from damage. The loss is confined to the affected warehouse, and once the fire is fully extinguished, we will assess the damage," he said.
The District Fire Officer further stated that preliminary investigation suggests an electrical short circuit as the likely cause of the fire incident, noing that the warehouse had not complied with mandatory fire safety norms.
"The likely cause appears to be an electrical short circuit. The warehouse had not taken the required safety certification," Pandey said.
He added that necessary legal and administrative action would be taken against those responsible, stressing that strict enforcement of fire safety regulations would be ensured to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future.
"Action will be taken, and we will ensure such warehouses cannot operate without proper safety measures. Our team has worked tirelessly for 13 hours and prevented a major disaster," he added. (ANI)
