RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, June 29: A team of forensic experts was pressed into service after two incidents of fire took place within a three-hour interval at the Birsa Munda Bus Terminal in the heart of state capital.
As many as nine buses were damaged in the incident. The first incident of fire came to the fore around 12.45pm. In this incident, as many as four buses were charred before the fire brigade could come and douse the fire.
Another incident took place around 3.30pm after the firefighter returned to complete their job. In the second incident of fire at the same bus terminus, five buses were charred before the fire fighter could return to douse the fire.
The reason behind the fire could not be ascertained so far. President of Federation of Jharkhand of Chambers of Commerce Kishore Mantri suspected a sabotage.
Contacted SP (city) Subhanshu Jain, he said a probe has been started. “Forensic team is in service at the spot. Very soon the things will be cleared and those responsible for the incident will be caught,” he said.
A locality resident who participated in firefighting said fire was first noticed in a small bus which gradually spread and people standing at the bus stand got terrified. “Though the flame was high and visible from far, there was no loss of life in the incident,” he said.
This is not the first time such an incident has taken place. Last year on the occasion of Deepawali. a bus was charred at the terminus. A driver and Khalasi had died in the incident.
A locality resident said the role of drug addicts using fire to create smoke of marijuana or other narcotics items cannot be ruled out. “Police should also probe the angle,” the resident said.
