An orgy of fire across the country due to firecrackers and lamps: 6 people lost their lives due to fire in two different houses in Katni and Seoni of MP, incidents of arson were reported at many places in Bhopal-Indore.
Amidst the happiness across the country on Diwali night, fire filled the lives of many families with grief. Incidents of fire due to spark from firecrackers and other reasons were reported in many states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra. In these accidents, 16 people died across the country, while many people were injured and some are reported missing.
The biggest impact was seen in Madhya Pradesh, where 12 people lost their lives in a fire in two separate houses in Katni and Seoni. At the same time, in Bhopal and Indore also, several incidents of arson on the night of Diwali spread panic among the people. Three members of a family trapped on the third floor in Bhopal were rescued safely by local people with the help of a rope.
16 people died in fire across the country on Diwali night
Incidents of fire were reported in many states of the country on the night of Diwali. Apart from Madhya Pradesh, accidents also took lives in Rajasthan, Delhi and Maharashtra. Two people died in a fire at a firecracker shop in Pali, Rajasthan, while three people were reported missing. Three shops and many two-wheelers were burnt in this accident. A 10-year-old child died after being hit in the stomach by a rocket firecracker in Narela, Delhi.
One person lost his life in another fire incident in Lokhandwala, Mumbai. More than 12 shops were gutted in the fire in Nehru Market of Jammu. Meanwhile, many two-wheelers were gutted in a fire at the TVS bike showroom in Nagpur. There was a loss of about Rs 20 to 25 lakh due to fire in a junk shop in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. 63 incidents of fire were reported in Pune, although no casualties were reported. Many shops and slums were burnt down in Mumbai’s Dongri, while a fire incident took place in a 17-storey building in Thane.
12 people died in Katni and Seoni in MP
The maximum loss of life due to fire on Diwali night occurred in Madhya Pradesh. Fire that broke out in two different houses in Katni and Seoni districts of the state destroyed two families. Six people of the same family died in a fire in a house in Katni. A two-month-old innocent child was also included among the dead. Meanwhile, six people lost their lives in a fire that broke out in the house of a bullion trader in Seoni. A total of 12 people died in both the incidents. In this way, Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of 16 deaths across the country on Diwali night.
Fire at 3 places in Bhopal, life saved with the help of rope
Three incidents of fire were reported in the capital Bhopal on Diwali night. The biggest incident took place in Ghoda Nakkas area, where a massive fire broke out in the betel nut center and grocery shop in front of Kundan Namkeen. Prem Lodge is also operated in the same building. A family living on the third floor was trapped due to fire and smoke. Three members of the family were not able to come out. In such a situation, people nearby came forward to help and brought all three down safely with the help of a rope from a height of about 40 feet. A major accident was averted due to the wisdom and courage of the local people.
According to the information, shop operator Prem Mangani had closed the shop after offering prayers at around 7 pm and went home. After this the shop caught fire. On receiving information, police and fire brigade teams reached the spot and started extinguishing the fire.
The second incident in Bhopal took place in Green Way Colony on Gandhinagar Airport Road. In a flat here, curtains caught fire due to a lamp lit during puja. After this the fire engulfed the entire house. The family was not present at home at the time of the accident. The family had gone to meet relatives after Lakshmi puja. Electronic goods, furniture, clothes, kitchen utensils, gold and silver jewelery and cash were burnt in the fire. The loss in this incident is estimated to be around Rs 25 lakh. However, there were no casualties. The third incident took place near Rafiqia School near Lal Masjid, where a heap of garbage caught fire. Firefighters reached the spot and brought the fire under control.
Fire at 6 places in Indore, from flat to warehouse burnt
Six incidents of arson were also reported in Indore on Diwali night. Goods kept in shops, flats and warehouses were burnt due to fire in Sarwate Bus Stand, Khajrana, Scheme No. 54, Vijayanagar, Nandbagh and Pardeshipura areas. The tires kept on the roof of the shop at Sarwate bus stand caught fire. Garage and furniture warehouse in Khajrana caught fire. Household items were burnt in the flat above Rajat Jewelers in Scheme No. 54.
A flat caught fire due to sparks from firecrackers in Milan Heights Society of Vijayanagar. It was fortunate that no one was present in the flat at the time of the incident. Neighbors tried to extinguish the fire by breaking the door and with the help of the fire brigade. The garbage plot of Nandbagh also caught fire due to sparks from firecrackers, while a clothes shop located on Road No. 6 in Pardeshipura got caught in the fire. It is a matter of relief that no death or injury was reported in these incidents in Indore.
Incidents of arson in other cities of MP also
Apart from Bhopal and Indore, incidents of fire were also reported in other cities of the state on Diwali night.
- Sidhi: A fire broke out in an auto parts shop in village Hattha Bazaar of Rampur Naikin police station area. The fire broke out when a burning firecracker fell inside the shop. Mobil oil and other inflammable materials were kept in the shop. About half of the shop was burnt in the accident.
- Barwani: A fire broke out in a shop in the firecracker market built in the boys school ground near the bus stand in Niwali. After this, firecrackers started bursting and there was chaos in the market. The entire goods of the shop were burnt, but five nearby shops were saved safely.
- Khandwa: A fire broke out in the warehouse built on the second floor of Shyam Mobile shop located at Mata Chowk in Mundi. Mobiles, TV and electronic items kept here were burnt. The same night, a fire broke out in the grass-thatched sacrificial fire built for Mahalakshmi worship in the Mata temple near Navlakha Chowk.
In these incidents that took place in different cities of the state, the fire broke out due to sparks from firecrackers, lamps and other reasons. At many places, fire fighters and local people controlled the fire in time. However, 12 deaths in Katni and Seoni incidents have raised serious questions about security arrangements and precautions amidst the Diwali happiness.