Blaze erupts in Bhopal’s PT-Kotra area:Catering goods worth lakhs of rupees destroyed; 3 fire tenders douse off flames

A massive fire broke out on Friday morning in a tent and catering shop near Aradhana Square in the PT-Kotra locality of Bhopal, the police said. Goods worth several lakhs of rupees were gutted in the fire, while panic gripped the area, though a major tragedy was narrowly averted. Blaze reported in early hours According to eyewitnesses, the fire started around 7 am and smoke was first spotted billowing out of the shop. Locals immediately alerted the fire control room. Despite the intensity of the blaze, firefighters managed to bring the flames under control by 9:30 am. after nearly two and a half hours of operations. The affected shop belongs to Lalla Prem Dwivedi, who stored a full stock of tent and catering materials inside. The damage has been estimated at around Rs 12 lakh.. Cylinders kept inside shop sparked fear What caused additional concern was the presence of LPG cylinders inside the premises. Luckily, none of them exploded. Senior administrative officials noted that if they had, the incident could have resulted in significant casualties and property damage. Three fire tenders rush to the scene Upon receiving the call, three fire engines from Mata Mandir and Pul Bogda fire stations were deployed. Firefighters, along with local residents, worked together to contain the flames. Witnesses said several people also tried to douse the fire with available resources until the fire tenders arrived. Short circuit suspected as trigger Preliminary reports suggest a short circuit as the likely cause. The shop was stocked with mattresses, quilts, curtains and other highly flammable materials, which allowed the fire to spread rapidly. Local resident Sonu Suryavanshi, who first reported the incident, confirmed that the blaze had engulfed all goods stored inside.