New Delhi: Several fire incidents were reported across the country on Sunday, including in Kolkata, Thane, Ghaziabad and Delhi, prompting firefighting operations. Meanwhile, fire services in Surat and Delhi stepped up preparedness ahead of Diwali, deploying additional personnel and equipment to respond to emergencies.
In Kolkata, a fire broke out in a building in the Beleghata area around 8.15 pm, prompting the deployment of four fire tenders. No one was trapped, and firefighters prevented the flames from spreading. Residents also assisted in dousing the blaze. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Earlier, a fire broke out in the kitchen of a house on North Purbachal Road in Garfa following an LPG cylinder leak. A fire tender was deployed, and the blaze was extinguished shortly afterwards. No injuries were reported.
In Thane West, four people sustained minor injuries and two residents were rescued after a fire broke out in the seventh-floor corridor of Aravali Hills Society in Kasarvadavali shortly after midnight.
The blaze, which started in the A wing, was extinguished by 1.10 am through the coordinated efforts of firefighting teams and disaster management personnel. The fire damaged the main doors, electrical wiring and elevator, affecting flats 701 to 704.
In Ghaziabad, a massive fire broke out at a plastic factory in the Vijay Nagar industrial area. Six fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and firefighting operations were underway.
Another major fire was reported at a building housing a garment factory in Nangli Sakrawati, near Najafgarh Road in southwest Delhi, around 4.21 pm. Fire officials deployed firefighting vehicles after the blaze spread from the ground floor to the fourth floor. Cooling operations were underway, and the cause of the fire remained unknown. No injuries had been reported.
Separately, PDP president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday urged the government to provide immediate financial assistance to shopkeepers whose businesses were destroyed in a fire at Shiv Market near Jammu railway station on October 25.
The blaze engulfed at least 40 shops and destroyed property worth crores of rupees. During a visit to the market, Mufti met affected shopkeepers and appealed to the government to help them rebuild their businesses, noting that many had taken loans and were already burdened by debt.
Ahead of Diwali, Surat Municipal Corporation placed its fire services on high alert, deploying two teams at each of its 27 fire stations and cancelling leave for officers and personnel for the next four days.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Prakash Hedaoo said fire tenders, water tankers and JCB machines had been kept on standby. The department was also inspecting firecracker stalls to ensure safety measures were in place. Emergency calls received through Dial 112 and 101 would be addressed on a priority basis, he said.
In Delhi, the fire service deployed 50 Quick Response Vehicles, 20 motorcycle first responders and water tenders at 15 strategic locations. All 71 fire stations would remain operational, with teams positioned to respond to emergencies across approximately 150 locations during the festive period.
Delhi Fire Officer Rajinder Atwal said the arrangements were in place for November 7 and 8. He urged residents to celebrate Diwali safely and take precautions to prevent loss of life and property.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also urged residents to light a diya in honour of soldiers, armed forces personnel and police personnel who remain on duty during festivals. She also expressed gratitude to sanitation workers for helping keep the capital clean.
(With agency inputs from ANI and PTI)