A catastrophic fire broke out in the Patra Underbridge area late Friday night, causing widespread devastation in the local Timber Market. The blaze, which reportedly originated at a saw mill, rapidly escalated to engulf a neighbouring decorator showroom, destroying property estimated to be worth between Rs 3 crore and Rs 4 crore. This marks the second major fire incident in the vicinity within a span of 45 days, raising serious concerns among local traders and residents. 50-Feet flames disrupt railway operations:

 

The inferno began around 2:50 am while the city was asleep. Within minutes, the fire assumed a gargantuan form, with flames leaping 40 to 50 feet into the air. The intense heat caused the tin roofing of the showroom to melt and collapse, complicating rescue efforts.

 

As the site is located immediately adjacent to the main railway tracks, the thick smoke and proximity of the flames caused significant alarm for railway authorities. To ensure passenger safety, trains were ordered to traverse the affected stretch at a restricted speed under high caution. Massive firefighting operation: Upon receiving the alert, police and fire brigades mobilised immediately.

 

However, the initial response was overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the blaze. Following an emergency call to the police control room, personnel from three police stations and senior officials arrived to cordon off the area. A massive fleet of 12 fire engines and approximately 50 water tankers were deployed from the Municipal Corporation and various other centres.

 

Mangalwara Station House Officer (SHO) Ajay Sony stated that after nearly four hours of high-risk operations, firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control by 6 am. Four workers inside the saw mill sustained injuries but were successfully evacuated in time. Economic catastrophe for traders: Avar Hussain, son of the decorator showroom owner, noted that the fire spread across half an acre in less than 15 minutes. The inventory, consisting of high-value furniture and decorative items, was completely incinerated. Traders are reeling from the financial blow, noting that a similar incident on November 9 had already caused losses of nearly Rs 2 crore. In the last 48 days alone, the market has seen assets worth approximately Rs 6 crore turn to ash.

 

The Timber Market houses 108 operational saw mills. Estimates suggest that at any given time, the area holds over 2,000 tons of wood. While the fire was contained before spreading to the entire market, its proximity to residential clusters, petrol pumps, and the railway line highlights a major safety risk. Sitting on a Powder Keg: Timber Market Association President, Badar Alam, levelled serious allegations against the administration for ignoring safety protocols. “With thousands of quintals of wood stocked here, there are still no permanent firefighting installations. Situated between residential blocks and a petrol pump, this market is essentially sitting on a powder keg,” Alam stated. Police are currently investigating the technical cause of the fire, with short-circuiting suspected as the primary trigger.