A fire broke out early Friday morning in the slums of Rani Garden, located in the Geeta Colony area of Shahdara district. While no injuries or casualties have been reported so far, several homes and some livestock were affected, according to officials.
Incident Details
- Time of Incident:
The fire was reported at 2:25 AM, according to Fire Officer Rajendra Atwal. - Response:
- A total of 12 fire tenders were deployed to the site to extinguish the blaze.
- Firefighters are working to bring the situation under control and will assess the damage once the fire is fully doused.
- Preliminary Cause:
While the exact cause remains unknown, a local woman suggested that a small fire lit to keep children warm may have accidentally ignited the larger blaze.
Impact on Residents
Residents of the slums expressed their devastation:
- Material Loss:
Many reported that their homes and belongings were destroyed.- “Everything we had has burnt down,” said one local woman.
- Livestock Casualties:
- Some pet goats housed in the area perished in the fire.
- Sampat, a resident, confirmed, “There are no injuries, but some goats have died.”
- Property Damage:
- The area housed approximately 400 slum dwellings.
- The fire affected small godowns storing tyres and rubber, exacerbating the blaze.
Statements from Witnesses
- Sampat (Resident):
“There was nothing unusual until 2 AM. We have no idea how the fire started, but the damage is extensive.” - Gaurav (Resident):
“It’s devastating; we couldn’t save anything, including the livestock.”
Further investigation is underway to determine the precise cause of the fire.