Apr 11 A major fire swept through the Rani Khar area of Maro in Nawagarh block on Saturday, destroying agricultural infrastructure across more than 50 acres and causing losses estimated in lakhs of rupees. The cause of the blaze remains unclear, though suspicion of deliberate ignition has been raised by affected farmers.

 

According to preliminary information, the fire spread rapidly across farmland, reducing multiple power pumps, pump houses, fencing wires and wooden poles to ashes. Several farmers were affected, with standing arrangements for irrigation and field protection completely wiped out. Farmer Jitendra Tiwari, whose assets were among those destroyed, said his pump house was completely gutted and his power pump rendered unusable. “Prima facie, it appears the fire may have been set with intent to cause damage,” he alleged.

 

The incident has brought the preparedness of fire services under sharp focus. Sources indicate that fire tender belonging to Nawagarh Panchayat has been lying idle at Nandghat police station since 2022 over administrative issues. In Maro Nagar Panchayat, residents claim that fire response facilities exist only on paper, with no effective deployment during emergencies. Locals have criticised the district administration and urban bodies for what they describe as continued neglect of basic emergency infrastructure.