Bhopal: A significant fire broke out in Gwalior early Thursday morning, resulting in the injury of two firefighters and completely gutting a three-story building. The blaze was exacerbated by the explosion of five LPG cylinders stored within the factory.
The fire started around 2:30 to 3:00 AM in the Kalan Gopal building located in Khasgi Bazar, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Janakganj Police Station. According to police reports, the fire initiated in a thread-making factory located in the basement of the structure.
Fueled by highly flammable materials used in thread production, the fire rapidly intensified and spread to five flats on the upper floors of the building. Upon noticing the flames, residents of the affected apartments quickly evacuated and alerted police and the fire department for assistance.
“The fire is now under control, and thankfully, no lives have been lost in this incident. The building houses seven families,” stated Manish Yadav, Deputy Superintendent of Police.
He added that the two firefighters, identified as Purushottam and Lokendra, sustained burn injuries while battling the intensified flames, which worsened due to the LPG cylinders exploding.
Both men have been hospitalized, and authorities are investigating the legality of the factory’s operations as well as the materials stored on-site. They are also looking into whether the fire was caused by a short circuit or other contributing factors.
As firefighters worked to combat the blaze, five gas cylinders exploded in succession. Additional support was requested, including from the Air Force fire brigade, to help extinguish the considerable fire.
By mid-morning, the fire was fully brought under control.
Residents reported that they first noticed the fire when smoke began filling their flats, followed by flames shooting up from the factory below, prompting a frantic rush to safety.
By the time emergency responders arrived, the fire had spread to the upper floors, requiring a coordinated effort to contain it. Firefighters risked their safety to enter the factory and douse the flames with water.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing as authorities assess the conditions that led to the fire.
