A massive fire broke out at the largest old power house in Barmer city on Tuesday afternoon, triggering a series of explosions and reducing large transformers and electrical equipment to ashes. The incident occurred at the aging facility, which had been a critical part of the city's power infrastructure. Old meters, electric wires worth lakhs of rupees, and an officer's car were gutted in the blaze. The plume of smoke was visible from 5 kilometers away, causing panic among residents. Staff members present at the site rushed out to safety as the fire spread rapidly, leading to a disruption of electricity supply to half the city for two hours.
Response and Firefighting Efforts
Over half a dozen fire brigade vehicles from the Civil Defence, Nagar Parishad, and the Air Force reached the spot and began efforts to douse the flames. Continuous explosions were reported due to short circuits in the power house following the fire. Firefighters faced challenges due to the intense heat and the risk of further explosions, but they managed to bring the fire under control after nearly two hours. The coordinated response from multiple agencies helped prevent the fire from spreading to nearby residential areas.
Impact on Power Supply and Infrastructure
The fire caused extensive damage to the power house, destroying transformers, meters, and electrical wires. The disruption in power supply affected half of Barmer city, with residents and businesses experiencing outages for two hours. Authorities are assessing the damage and working to restore full power supply. The cause of the fire is under investigation, with initial reports suggesting a possible short circuit. The incident highlights the need for upgrades to aging power infrastructure in the region.
