Fire Breaks Out at Ludhiana School's Generator Room, Prompting Evacuation
A fire broke out in the generator room of Ram Lal Bhasin School in Phase I, Dugri, Ludhiana, on Wednesday morning, leading to the evacuation of all students and staff as a precautionary measure. Fire officials confirmed that no injuries occurred and the blaze was confined to the generator room, which is located away from the main classroom building.
The fire was reported at approximately 8:55 am. Firefighters arrived at the scene and found flames emerging from the generator room. Using a single fire tender, they brought the fire under control within a short time, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the school.
Prompt Evacuation Ensures Safety
School authorities at Ram Lal Bhasin School stated that all students and staff were safely evacuated from the building immediately after the fire was detected. They maintained that the situation never got out of control and that all emergency protocols were followed without delay.
Fire officials praised the timely information and prompt evacuation, which helped prevent any untoward incident. They added that the fire did not affect classrooms or other parts of the building.
Parental Concerns and Allegations
The incident caused anxiety among parents, many of whom rushed to the school upon learning about the fire. School authorities assured them that all students had been shifted to a safe place and the situation was under control.
Residents living near the school alleged that electrical sparking had occurred in the generator room on several occasions in the past. They claimed the issue was brought to the attention of the school management but no permanent corrective measures were taken. Some residents also alleged that fire extinguishers at the spot failed to function when staff members tried to contain the flames.
Sachin Manchanda, a local resident, said, “Fortunately, everyone is safe today, but the school should ensure proper maintenance of electrical equipment to avoid such incidents in the future.” He also claimed that locked gates in the colony delayed the movement of the fire brigade heading to the school.
School Management and MLA Response
The school management maintained that the generator was installed in a separate external room and the fire was controlled before it could spread further. They reiterated that all emergency protocols were followed and students were shifted to safety without delay.
Atam Nagar MLA Kulwant Singh Sidhu visited the school after the incident. He directed the management to ensure regular maintenance of electrical installations and strengthen fire safety measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
