Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
A major fire broke out in Himayat Baugh on Sunday morning and burned for nearly seven hours, spreading towards the nearby Chous Colony and triggering a large-scale firefighting operation. No casualties were reported in the incident, though vast stretches of dry grass were reduced to ashes due to the extreme heat.
The fire erupted around 11 am in the Himayat Baugh premises. Eyewitnesses reported Lokmat Times seeing smoke rising 2 to 3 hours before the fire brigade was alerted. The fire brigade received the first call from residents of Chous Colony and reached the spot by 1.50 pm with two fire tenders. Soaring temperatures and large stretches of dry grass accelerated the spread of the fire, making containment extremely difficult. Fire officials said the combustible vegetation and intense heat allowed the blaze to escalate quickly, pushing it towards the colony limits.
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No casualties, ground vegetation destroyed
Fire officials confirmed that no casualties were reported in the incident. Only the lower ground grass was burnt due to the extreme heat. Operations continued until 7.30 pm before the fire was fully brought under control.
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Access hurdles delay operations
"Due to the narrow entrance, only one mini tender could enter the premises. One fire tender had to remain stationed outside, while another tried to douse the flames from outside. We continued firefighting operations from 1.50 pm to 7.30 pm."
- Fire officer Ramesh Sonawane