20221003 One dead, 50 injured as puja pandal catches fire in UP’s Bhadohi
India Dec 03 2022 “Building” “Office bldg.”
Dead : dead 1 to 4 Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured more than 10
One dead, 50 injured as puja pandal catches fire in UP’s Bhadohi
Updated: 2022-10-03
VARANASI: One minor boy died and at least 50 people, mainly women and children, suffered burn injuries when a crowded Durga Puja Pandal caught fire at Ekta Club on Bhadohi-Aurai Road in Bhadohi district, 40 km from Varanasi, on Sunday night.
One 12-year-old boy succumbed to burn injuries during treatment, confirmed Bhadohi DM Gaurang Rathi. Camping at Bhadohi district hospital to monitor the situation, Mirzapur divisional commissioner Yogeshwar Ram Mishra said; “Forty-two persons had suffered critical burn injuries and they needed hospitalisation.
After coordinating with officials in Varanasi, all these injured persons were referred to the trauma centre of BHU and SPG divisional hospital of Varanasi for better treatment.”
‘Fire started when aarti ritual was on’
Most of Durga Puja pandals were opened for devotees on the occasion ‘Saptami’ on Sunday, a day after the Shashti (sixth day) puja. There was a huge crowd at the Ekta Club pandal at the time of the incident around 8 pm. The fire started when people were taking part in the aarti ritual.
Within minutes, flames engulfed the entire puja pandal made of clothes on the base of bamboos.
“Soon, people were running all around and theflames were evident from several kilometres,” the locals said. Although fire fighters reached the spot immediately, by the time flames could be doused, and the people inside the pandal could be rescued,over 50 had suffered burn injuries.
The commissioner said that persons with minor injuries were treated at local hospitals while critically injured were rushed to Varanasi after providing first aid.
Web Source: The Times of India