Massive fire in Kanpur slum: 50 huts gutted overnight; damage assessment on, residents evacuated

KANPUR: A devastating fire destroyed over 50 roadside huts in a slum near Shatabdi Nagar Shivalik Bhavan within Panki police station limits during the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.The residents evacuated their homes and rushed to the streets for safety.The emergency response included eight fire brigade teams who worked to control the fire. The presence of scrap materials in the dwellings caused the fire to spread rapidly. The situation worsened when cylinders and stoves inside the huts exploded due to the intense heat.According to Chief Fire Officer Deepak Sharma, the Ratanpur settlement in Panki's Shatabdi Nagar houses hundreds of residents in more than 50 roadside shanties.

"Around 1 a.m., apparently a spark from an electric pole fell onto one of the shanties. Within minutes, the fire spread from one shanty to the next. As the fire broke out, people fled with their belongings to save their lives. Children and women sleeping inside the shanties were moved to safety," he said.The CFO confirmed that the fire brigade teams successfully controlled the fire after extensive efforts. "All residents were safely evacuated from the affected dwellings. No casualties were reported in the incident, whilst authorities are currently evaluating the extent of property damage," he said.