Huts gutted in late night blaze in Krishnanagar slum
Lucknow: A massive fire broke out in early hours of Wednesday, reducing to ashes a large slum settlement in the Kaunsi Kheda locality under Krishnanagar police station limits, leaving over 200 people homeless. The fire reportedly started around 2:45am, gutting dozens of shanties and continuing for several hours before it was fully extinguished around 8am.
Police and fire departments suspected , the blaze to have been triggered by short circuit in an electric pole, which collapsed on top of one hut. Residents accused electricity department of negligence.
Chief fire officer Mangesh Kumar, who personally oversaw the firefighting efforts, said the fire was massive but there were no casualties. "A dozen fire tenders and firefighters worked tirelessly all night and extinguished the blaze," he said.
While local residents estimated between 200 and 250 huts were reduced to rubble, Krishnanagar SHO Pradhyuman Kumar Singh claimed around 32 huts were burnt and Alambagh fire station officer D P Singh put the figure at 82.
The slum was home to Assamese migrant workers and ragpickers. Initial attempts to douse the flames with water failed, prompting them to alert the fire brigade.
"The fire spread rapidly and it was visible from 2 kms away," said a firefighter. "The situation worsened with explosion of gas cylinders and petrol tanks of parked two-wheelers."
Meena, slum-dweller, said, "We were sleeping when we suddenly felt intense heat. I woke up my children and husband and ran outside. We tried to put out the fire, but it spread too fast."
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