Major Fire in Nagpur Destroys Shanties, Injures Three Residents
A significant fire broke out at Sangam Chawl near Patwardhan Ground in Nagpur during the early hours of Monday, resulting in substantial damage to residential structures and personal belongings. According to official reports, the blaze gutted as many as six shanties, along with household items and two two-wheelers. Fortunately, no fatalities occurred, but three residents sustained minor burn injuries in the incident.
Rapid Response and Firefighting Efforts
Fire officials stated that the control room received a distress call at approximately 4:43 AM. Fire tenders were promptly dispatched to the location, with the first arriving by 4:47 AM. Firefighters launched an intensive operation to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to nearby shanties in this densely populated area.
The firefighting teams worked continuously to control the blaze and mitigate further damage, a fire official emphasized. Due to the construction materials—primarily wood and grass—the fire spread rapidly, completely destroying four of the shanties.
Injuries and Immediate Aftermath
During the fire, three residents—Sagar Thakur, Amit Thakur, and Anita Yadav—suffered burns. Sagar and Amit sustained injuries on their hands and faces, while Anita experienced burns on both hands. All three were transported to the Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
The firefighting operation lasted nearly 2.5 hours before the blaze was fully brought under control. Initial assessments indicate that household goods, furniture, and other personal belongings inside the huts were reduced to ashes. Preliminary estimates place the total financial loss at around Rs 9.8 lakh. Residents also reported additional losses, including Rs 50,000 in cash and gold ornaments valued at nearly Rs 2 lakh.
Political and Administrative Response
Following the incident, Dharampeth zone corporator Pooja Pathak contacted Mayor Neeta Thakre to inform her about the fire and request compensation for the affected families. In response, the mayor directed the district administration to conduct a survey through the district collector's office and the tehsildar.
Assistant Municipal Commissioner Rajkumar Meshram of Dharampeth zone arranged temporary shelter for the affected families on the premises of Yashwant Stadium. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, with fire officials suspecting an electrical short circuit may have triggered the blaze. A detailed inquiry is currently underway.
Separate Fire Incident at Tyre Warehouse in Tiroda
In a separate incident, a fire was reported at a tyre warehouse near Tiroda early Monday morning. Fire department officials received a call at around 5:34 AM regarding a blaze at the High Tech Tyre warehouse, located near Ring Road in Dighori under Kamptee tehsil.
Warehouse operator Kamal Iyer alerted the fire control room after observing thick smoke and flames emanating from the premises. Firefighting teams were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Firefighting Operation and Damage Assessment
Three fire tenders, led by fire officers Shivaji Shirke and Chandrashekhar Randive from Sakkardara, Wathoda, and Narendra Nagar fire stations, were rushed to the location. Additional firefighting vehicles were called in from Bidgaon, Bahadura Nagar Panchayat, and Kamptee Municipal Council to assist in the operation.
Officials reported that the fire originated in the rear portion of the approximately 8,000 square foot warehouse. The area also contained temporary accommodation for around 10 employees, with furniture and other materials in these rooms completely destroyed.
Fire department sources indicated that around 25 new tyres, nearly 70 remoulded tyres, and four remoulding machines were gutted in the blaze, along with other equipment and materials stored in the warehouse.
Firefighters carried out an intensive operation to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures. The cooling operation continued for nearly four hours before the situation was fully stabilized. No casualties or injuries were reported in this incident.
Residents affected by the Sangam Chawl fire have begun clearing debris and attempting to salvage any remaining items from the charred structures. Both incidents highlight the ongoing challenges of fire safety in urban and industrial settings, with investigations pending to determine the precise causes and prevent future occurrences.
