SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Feb 21: At least 10 shops were completely gutted in a major fire that broke out at Steel Gate-based vegetable market under Saraidhela police station on the late night of Monday- Tuesday. Goods worth Rs 10 lakh reportedly were damaged in the fire.
The district fire officer Laxman Prasad said that the fire was spotted by shop owners at around 11:10 PM.
“The fire was controlled in 2 hours 35 minutes of fighting after pressing three fire engines in action,” said Laxman Prasad.
The fire officer said his team reached the spot at 11:20 PM and controlled the fire at 1:45 AM. Ten shops were completely gutted. The timely action of the fire fighting team stopped the fire from spreading further in densely housed shops in the market.
After getting the information, Dhanbad Sadar MLA Raj Sinha and police officers of Saraidhela police station reached the fire spot and launched a rescue operation. The police officer said the reason for the fire is yet to be known.
The officer said the exact damage in the fire could be said only after a proper investigation and assessment but the initial report said goods worth Rs 10 lakh were damaged in the fire.
MLA Raj Sinha assured the victim traders to help in getting compensation from the district administration.
One of the victims’ shop owners Ram Prasad told that having seen fire flame bellowing out from a shop they first tried to control their own level. But when the fire continued spreading fire department was informed.
This was the 4th major fire in Dhanbad in the last 25 days. Earlier on the night of January 28, five people including a doctors couple died in a fire at Hazra Memorial Hospital at Telephone Exchange Road in the city.
On January 30 in Kumardhubi market around 40 km away from district headquarter 30 shops were gutted in a fire.
On February 1 in the fire of the Ashirwad Tower Apartment, 14 people including 10 women, one male and a child were burnt alive.
This is the second time in four months a fire has broken out in the Steel Gate vegetable market. On November 25, 2022, 11 shops were gutted in a fire.
