A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday in the Bangra area of Mauranipur tehsil in Jhansi, destroying a police outpost, a BJP office, and around half a dozen shops. A Home Guard personnel, Sunil Dubey, sustained 30% burn injuries while assisting in firefighting operations and was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment.
Incident Details
According to police officials, the incident occurred at approximately 2:30 am when smoke began emanating from the Bangra police outpost. The fire quickly spread to an adjoining paint shop and soon turned into an inferno, engulfing several nearby establishments. The blaze intensified when an LPG cylinder inside a sweetmeat shop exploded, further aggravating the fire and causing additional damage.
Properties Affected
Among the affected properties were a local BJP office, a two-wheeler dealership, an electronics shop, a mobile repair shop, and a sweetmeat shop. The fire caused extensive damage to the police outpost, destroying furniture, a wireless communication set, an inverter, and an air-conditioning unit.
Firefighting Efforts
Five fire tenders, including three from Jhansi, were rushed to the spot. Firefighters battled the flames for nearly three hours before bringing the situation under control.
Investigation
Chief fire officer Raj Kishore Rai stated that preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been triggered by a short circuit, either in the police outpost or the adjoining paint shop. A detailed inquiry is underway to determine the exact cause of the incident and assess the extent of the losses.
