A massive fire broke out early Saturday morning at the Varanasi Cantt railway station in Uttar Pradesh, engulfing the parking area and damaging at least 200 two-wheelers. Fortunately, there were no injuries, as reported by officials. The fire, which caused extensive damage, was swiftly contained by fire brigade teams and local authorities after two hours of intense firefighting efforts.
Scale of the Blaze
Visuals from the site captured the alarming scale of the blaze, with towering flames and thick plumes of smoke rising from the parking area. The fire affected a large number of vehicles, many of which were parked in the vicinity of the station. According to reports, the majority of the damaged vehicles belonged to railway employees, some of whom were fortunate enough to escape the fire unharmed.
In one video, police officers can be seen desperately spraying water to contain the fire, while dense smoke obscured the area, making visibility difficult. The thick smoke and the ferocity of the flames led to significant disruption at the station, with passengers and railway staff witnessing the chaos unfold.
Efforts to Contain the Fire
Approximately 12 fire brigade vehicles, along with teams from the Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF), and local police, were deployed to tackle the inferno. The firefighters worked relentlessly for over two hours to control the fire, which had quickly spread through the parking area.
The efforts were hampered by the high density of vehicles in the area, which made it difficult to access some sections of the parking lot. However, after continuous spraying of water and managing to keep the flames under control, the fire was eventually brought to an end.
Cause of the Fire
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit. Kunwar Bahadur Singh, Circle Officer of the Government Railway Police (GRP), confirmed that the fire originated from a short circuit. “There were some cycles too that have been burnt… The fire was due to a short circuit. We are conducting further investigation,” Singh stated. The timing of the incident suggests that the short circuit occurred in the late evening, and despite attempts to address it, it eventually escalated into a large-scale fire.
A railway employee described the chaotic situation, recalling how he narrowly escaped the flames. “I parked my bike around midnight. Someone near the vehicle parking told me that a short circuit had occurred around 11 pm and had been fixed. A few hours later, a passenger informed me about a fire outside. I quickly moved my bike to the other side, and soon the flames spread across the parking lot,” he said.
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Safety Concerns and Investigation
This fire has raised significant concerns about the safety measures in place at high-traffic areas such as railway station parking lots. While fire and safety regulations are generally in place, this incident highlights the need for better prevention strategies, especially in spaces with large numbers of vehicles parked in close proximity.
Local authorities are now conducting a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire. The fire safety protocols at the station are also expected to be reassessed to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future.
In the wake of the fire, there are likely to be calls for better monitoring of electrical infrastructure and more frequent checks for hazards, particularly in areas as crucial as transportation hubs.
