Staff Reporter :  

 

 “There was fire everywhere andcompletedarkness.People were shouting and running to save their lives,” said a villager. Astheragingflames reached the village, it spread rapidly from one house to another. Cattle sheds and storage areas also caught fire which added fueltotheflames.Villagerstried to control the fire using buckets of water, but their efforts failed due to the intensity of the blaze and strong winds. Sensing danger, families rushed out of their homes and carryied whatever they could. Many barely managed to escapeasflamesengulfedtheir houses within minutes.

 

“We lefteverythingbehindandjust ran.Withinnotime,ourhomes were gone,” another resident told the police. Fourfiretenderswererushed to the spot, but only two could reach inside the village due to narrow roads. Firefighters began operations immediately but struggled to control the fire completely. Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Mhaske said, “Police from Bhivapur station and fire brigade teams worked continuouslytocontrolthefire. Theflamesspreadveryfastdue to heavy winds.” He added that villagers and cattle were safely rescued, but extensive damage has been reported.Thefirefightingoperation was continued till late night.

A DEVASTATING fire reduced almost entire Dhamangaon village in Bhivapur tehsil to ashes after flames spread rapidly from a nearby agricultural field and engulfed homes within minutes, on Saturday late evening. The raging inferno forced panicked villagers to flee to safety.

 

Till filing of the report, four cattle were charred to death while an enderly man, who sustained burns, was saved by police personnel. According to the officials, the fire started when some villagers set dry agricultural waste on fire in nearby fields at around 6 pm. Due to strong winds, the flames quickly spiralled out of control and moved towards the village. Dhamangaon, which has many old houses made of wood and traditional materials, became highly vulnerable as the fire reached residential areas. Eyewitnesses said, the situation worsened as night fell and electricity supply was disrupted which plunged the village into darkness.