Rohtak, April 21: A massive fire broke out on Tuesday at a café located at Sonipat Stand in Rohtak, Haryana. Engulfed by the flames, a gas cylinder kept in the kitchen exploded with a loud bang. The explosion was so powerful that the glass windows of nearby shops shattered. Simultaneously, the fire intensified rapidly, assuming a ferocious form.
Fire Brought Under Control After Two-Hour Effort
Panic in Area; Hospital Patients Shifted as Cylinders Secured
According to the police, three gas cylinders were kept in the café’s kitchen. Fortunately, only one cylinder was engulfed by the fire, while the remaining two were safely removed in the nick of time.
Here is a step-by-step account of how the accident unfolded:
- Explosion occurred while cooking in the kitchen: Jatin runs a café named “Fast Food” at Sonipat Stand. An extension board was installed in the café’s kitchen. In the afternoon, the cook was preparing food in the kitchen. Suddenly, a short circuit occurred, causing the extension board to catch fire. As soon as the fire broke out, the cook fled the kitchen and ran outside. Simultaneously, the customers seated in the café also rushed towards the exit. It was at that moment that the cylinder suddenly exploded, and the fire spread rapidly.
- Shattered glass in nearby shops: The explosion caused by the fire at the café was so intense that the glass windows of the surrounding shops were shattered. Startled by the sound of the explosion, people panicked and rushed out of their shops. Three other gas cylinders were also present inside the café, raising fears that they might explode as well. A firefighter, displaying immense courage, ventured inside and successfully removed all three cylinders.
- Hospital Adjacent to Café; Patients Terrified: Located right next to the café is an orthopedic hospital named ‘Ishwar,’ where patients were currently admitted. The fire and subsequent explosion at the café left the patients visibly terrified. The hospital administration began the process of shifting patients to safety as the fire continued to intensify. Given the hospital’s proximity to the burning building, there was a significant risk of the incident escalating further.
- Government Offices at Sonipat Stand: The Sonipat Stand area houses the Mini Secretariat, the District Court, and various other government offices. Additionally, a girls’ college is situated nearby. The sound of the cylinder explosion reverberated across a wide area, causing widespread panic among the public. While the fire brigade worked to bring the blaze under control, traffic on one side of the road was temporarily halted.
Fire Brought Under Control; Café Suffers Extensive Damage
Mahendra Singh, the SHO of the Civil Lines Police Station, stated that the police had received a report regarding a fire at the café. Acting on this information, teams from both the police and the fire brigade rushed to the scene and, after a strenuous effort lasting approximately two hours, successfully brought the fire under control. While the fire caused extensive damage to the café, fortunately, there was no loss of life. He further confirmed that the fire was triggered by a short circuit.