A devastating fire engulfed an Amazon warehouse in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, late Friday night, resulting in the tragic deaths of two workers who were trapped inside. The victims have been identified as Narendra Negi, 35, and Amit Arya, 25, both residents of Haldwani.
Preliminary Investigation Points to Short Circuit
Police officials stated on Saturday that preliminary findings suggest the fire was caused by a short circuit linked to a vehicle charging unit on the premises. The two workers, who were sleeping inside at the time, died due to suffocation. Haldwani SP (city) Manoj Kumar Katyal confirmed that the blaze was first noticed around 11:30 pm.
Lack of Safety Measures
Investigators are reviewing footage from the godown. Initial findings indicate that the warehouse did not possess the required fire No Objection Certificate (NOC). Furthermore, the facility reportedly had no emergency exits, with only a single shutter serving as the sole outlet. No formal complaint has been lodged by the victims' families yet. Authorities are probing the exact cause from all angles.
According to local residents, the unit was locked at the time of the incident, trapping the workers inside. Firefighters had to break open the shutters, but the fire spread aggressively. By the time they gained full access, the warehouse had been reduced to ashes.
Community Response and Damage Assessment
Neighbors and passersby assisted rescue teams, with some suffering burns. An inventory transport tempo and a scooter plugged into a charging outlet were completely destroyed, along with other materials. The total extent of damages is yet to be assessed, workers said.
The Amazon unit is located on Rampur Road in Haldwani’s Jeetpur Negi area, which houses several other warehouses. Locals noted that workers at an adjacent unit operated by Blinkit were the first to notice the fire and alerted the fire brigade.
