Major Fire Erupts at Scrap Shop in Jaipur's Jhotwara Area
Panic and chaos gripped the Jhotwara locality of Jaipur on Monday evening as a massive fire broke out at a scrap shop located in Sanjay Nagar, Narayanpuri. The shop, which reportedly stored old tyres and other highly inflammable materials, became the epicenter of a rapidly spreading blaze that sent a thick, dark plume of smoke billowing into the evening sky.
Rapid Response by Fire Department
Upon seeing the intense flames and heavy smoke, a large crowd quickly gathered around the shop, heightening panic in the residential area. Fire officials were immediately alerted, leading to a swift deployment of 11 to 12 fire tenders from the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC). The firefighters worked diligently and managed to bring the blaze under control by approximately 7:40 PM.
However, the operation faced challenges due to the burning tyres and plastic waste, which produced dense smoke that took additional time to completely disperse. This prolonged the visibility issues and environmental impact in the vicinity.
Official Statement and Safety Measures
Gautamlal, the Chief Fire Officer of JMC, provided crucial details about the incident. "We received information about the fire at around 5:50 PM, and our teams reached the spot within 10 minutes," he stated. "Fortunately, no one was present inside the shop at the time, so there was no loss of life or injury. The fire did not spread extensively, which helped us control it quickly. However, as tyres were also burning, the smoke was very dense and took time to subside."
As a precautionary measure during the firefighting operation, the electricity supply in the surrounding area was temporarily cut off to prevent any electrical hazards. This step was taken to ensure the safety of both the responders and residents.
Investigation and Traffic Disruption
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown and is currently under investigation by authorities. Preliminary assessments suggest it might be linked to the inflammable materials stored at the site, but a detailed probe is underway to determine the origin and circumstances.
The incident caused significant disruption in the area, with heavy congestion reported as a large number of onlookers gathered at the site. Traffic movement on nearby roads was severely affected for a considerable period. With the assistance of police and JMC officials, traffic was gradually restored, but the aftermath of the fire left a lingering impact on the locality's normalcy.
Residents expressed relief that no casualties occurred, but concerns remain about the safety protocols for storing hazardous materials in densely populated areas. The Jaipur Municipal Corporation has emphasized the importance of adhering to fire safety regulations to prevent such incidents in the future.
