Jharkhand News : A massive fire broke out on Sunday near Sahajanand Chowk on Harmu Road, under the Argora police station limits in Ranchi. The incident caused significant destruction as two stationery shops located on the ground floor of the building were completely gutted. The fire also caused partial damage to residential units on the upper floors, leaving residents in panic and leading to estimated losses worth lakhs of rupees.
According to eyewitnesses, the flames spread rapidly throughout the building. Residents sleeping on the upper floors had to flee in a hurry to save their lives as thick smoke engulfed the structure. Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities reported.
Argora police station in-charge Brahmadev Prasad confirmed that the fire was reported early in the morning. Upon receiving the information, police personnel along with the fire department teams rushed to the spot. It took considerable effort and time to bring the flames under control. A total of four fire engines were deployed in the operation.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the fire was likely caused by a short circuit. The building owner stated that the entire property, including inventory in the shops, was destroyed in the blaze. The exact value of the damage will be known only after a complete assessment is conducted.
The incident has raised concerns over fire safety in commercial-cum-residential buildings in the city. Many locals have demanded stricter inspection protocols and better preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future.
Officials assured that the situation is now under control and no casualties occurred, though the financial damage is substantial. The fire department is continuing its investigation to determine the precise cause and evaluate the total loss.
