A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of Friday, gutting goods and merchandise in eleven commercial establishments located in front of the Aurad bus stand in Bidar district. The incident has raised serious questions about the preparedness of local emergency services after residents reported a critical failure in the firefighting response.
Midnight Blaze Engulfs Local Businesses
The fire erupted past midnight on Friday, swiftly consuming the contents of nine hardware shops, one footwear shop, and one grocery shop. Alerted by the flames, local residents immediately summoned the fire brigade around 1 am. The shops, which are a vital part of the local commercial landscape, suffered significant losses in the blaze.
Allegations of Firefighting Failure
While the fire engine reportedly reached the incident spot within thirty minutes, it allegedly arrived without the crucial resource needed to combat the flames: water. Frustrated locals, including the shop owners, informed Aurad Tahsildar Mahesh Patil that the vehicle "just could not extinguish the fire" due to the absence of water in its tank. This alleged lapse significantly hampered initial efforts to control the spread of the fire.
Official Inspection and Aftermath
Following the incident, a team of officials conducted a spot inspection. The team included Tahsildar Mahesh Patil, CPI Raghveerasingh Thakur, and officers from the fire department. The inspection aimed to assess the extent of the damage and investigate the circumstances surrounding the firefighting efforts. The incident has left the business community in the area distressed, facing substantial financial ruin. Questions are now being raised about the maintenance and readiness of fire safety infrastructure in the district to prevent such tragedies in the future.
