By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: A massive fire broke out late on Thursday night at Alankar Jewellers in the Sonar Mandi area of Bihta market, Patna district, reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit. The flames quickly spread, engulfing two adjacent shops—a jewellery store named Ganpati Jewellery and a cosmetic shop. The devastating blaze reduced the shops to ashes, with estimated losses of ₹15 to ₹20 lakh.
Upon receiving information about the incident, the local police and fire brigade promptly arrived at the scene. It took about one hour of intensive efforts to bring the fire under control. However, the narrow lanes of the market posed challenges for large fire engines, necessitating the use of smaller vehicles to combat the blaze.
Laddu Kumar, owner of Alankar Jewellers, shared his account of the incident, saying, “I had closed the shop at 8 pm. At midnight, I received a call informing me about the fire. When I arrived, I saw the shop engulfed in flames and immediately alerted the police and fire brigade.” He further explained that the fire likely originated from an electrical short circuit but added that the precise extent of the damage remains uncertain.
Bihta Police Station House Officer (SHO) Rajkumar Pandey confirmed that the fire was brought under control after 40 minutes of concerted effort, averting a larger disaster. He noted, “While two shops suffered significant damage, the third shop was partially affected. No written report has yet been filed by the shop owners regarding the losses.”
This incident highlights the need for better fire safety measures in congested market areas to prevent such mishaps in the future.
