20240603 Major fire breaks out at hardware shop, no casualties
India Jun 03 2024 “Stores”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Major fire breaks out at hardware shop, no casualties
Updated: 2024-06-03
Ludhiana: A major fire broke out in a hardware shop, Ashoka Hardware, near Aarti Chowk on Sunday afternoon. The fire started on the second floor of the shop after a short circuit. As the shutter was locked, firemen found it difficult to control the flames. There were no casualties as the shop was closed at the time.
For the first time, firemen used a turn table ladder to control the fire on the second floor from outside. They entered the building when the situation improved to some extent. The shop had only one entry and exit, which made the task even more difficult for fire officials, who said that a large stock was kept inside.
Firemen added that the toughened glass used at the entrance made it difficult for them to break inside. Eventually, they said that they broke the wall to gain access to the premises. They said that the fire was more intense on the second floor.
The fire broke out at around 3.30pm. When shopkeepers nearby noticed the flames, they informed the shop owner and alerted the fire brigade. As many as five fire tenders had to make more than 20 rounds to douse the flames.
The dense smoke limited visibility in the area. The smoke was also visible from the elevated road around Ferozepur Road. Fire officials said that no fire safety precautions had been taken in the shop despite the flammable material stored inside.
Assistant divisional fire officer Maninder Singh said, “Firemen had to proceed gradually. As the shop was surrounded by other shops from both sides, it was a challenging task for them.”
The shop is located at a prime location frequented by many, so police had to disperse the crowd here before fire tenders could be pressed into action. Owners of adjoining shops started vacating their premises when they saw situation turning serious.
Web Source The Times of India