FIRE ENGULFED PROPERTY

FIRE ENGULFED PROPERTY

31-OCT-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR--------------------------A massive fire broke out on Thursday night at Keshari General Store, located near Canara Bank on Namak Gola Road in the city. Goods worth lakhs of rupees, stored in both the shop and the warehouse located at the rear, were reduced to ashes. According to the shop owner, Bablu Keshari, the incident has resulted in a loss of property valued at approximately ₹40 lakh. Preliminary reports suggest that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit originating from an electric pole.

Shop owner Bablu Keshari stated that he had closed the shop and returned home around 9:30 PM on Thursday. About half an hour later, local residents called to inform him that his shop was on fire. By the time he arrived at the scene, the fire had already spread throughout the entire shop. The incident caused panic in the area, drawing a large crowd to the site.

Upon receiving the alert, a fire tender was immediately dispatched to the location. Given the severity of the blaze, two additional fire tenders were called in. Under the leadership of Sadar Sub-divisional Fire Officer Sunanda Kumari and Head Fireman Harekrishna Kumar, the firefighting team managed to bring the blaze under control after a strenuous effort.

The Sub-divisional Fire Officer noted that the fire department team took swift action upon receiving the information. The fire was completely extinguished with the help of three fire tenders. During the operation, nearby shops and houses were successfully protected from the flames.

Keshari General Store operated as both a wholesale and retail business. The shop stocked a variety of general merchandise, including detergent powder, oil, soap, biscuits, shampoo, chocolates, ice cream, and henna (mehndi). The fire spread to the storeroom located behind the shop, damaging the goods kept there. According to the shop owner, property worth approximately ₹40 lakh has been destroyed in the incident. Bablu Keshari is a native of Belthari village, which falls under the Kochas police station area in Rohtas district.

Following the incident, the Fire Department has urged the public to have their electrical appliances and wiring inspected regularly. The department has advised the use of high-quality electrical materials and the installation of fire extinguishers in shops and commercial establishments. In the event of a fire, people are advised to immediately report it by calling 101 or 112. Additionally, the department can also be contacted via mobile numbers 7485805930 and 7485805931.