Jhansi: Panic gripped the bustling old city area on Wednesday evening aftera massive fire broke out at a paint shop on Gandhi Road near BaraBazar. After several hours of effort, firefighters brought the blaze undercontrol.No casualties were reported, but paint stocks and other highly inflammablematerials worth several lakh rupees were destroyed in the blaze.The fire erupted at Chaudhary Paints, a decades-old wholesale establishmentwith its retail outlet, godown and residence located in two buildingsopposite each other in a narrow lane lined with hundreds of wholesale shops.According to Chief Fire Officer Raj Kishore Rai, the shop owner reportedhearing a sudden blast before flames rapidly engulfed the retail outlet.The fire department was alerted immediately, following which more than adozen fire tenders were rushed to the spot.Firefighters faced considerable difficulty reaching the site because of thenarrow and crowded approach roads. Local traders shut their shops andhelped clear a passage for the fire engines. The operation remainedchallenging as the entrance to the affected shop was through a passagebarely three feet wide and around eight feet long.Theexact cause of Wednesday’s blaze is yet to be established, and aninvestigation is underway, Rai said.
Attachment
Attachment
