Patna: Property worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed in a fire in the house of one Prem Kumar on Daldali Road in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan police station area early on Sunday morning. However, there were no casualties in the incident.The incident triggered panic among local residents and shopkeepers.Eyewitnesses said the blaze erupted around 2.30am on Sunday in the residence of Prem and within minutes, flames engulfed the entire house. Nearby residents and shopowners started fleeing their homes in fear.Fire tenders reached the spot promptly following the alert. However, the narrow lanes in the area posed challenges for the vehicles to manoeuvre effectively. Firefighters had to use ladders and water sprays from the sides to combat the intense flames. After approximately two-and-a-half hours of relentless efforts, the fire was brought under control and fully extinguished by around 5.30am. Quick action by the fire brigade prevented the blaze from spreading to adjacent houses and shops.Sub-divisional fire officer Ajit Kumar said nearly 10 fire engines, including both large and small units, were deployed at the spot. “Preliminary inquiries point to a possible short circuit as the cause of the fire, though a thorough investigation is underway to determine the exact reason. Four people were rescued from the house,” he said.
