Massive fire engulfs over 70 huts, warehouses in UP's Hapur; dozens left homeless

A massive fire broke out near a bus stand in Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur on Monday morning, reducing nearly 70 huts to ashes and spreading to adjacent transport warehouses and a factory.

The blaze, which erupted around 8.30 am, triggered a large-scale emergency response involving eight fire tenders and police teams.

Officials said the fire spread rapidly due to the presence of highly flammable materials such as plastic, polythene, and scrap stored in the area. Thick plumes of smoke engulfed the locality as flames quickly leapt from the cluster of huts to nearby establishments, including Gayatri Logistics Transport, United Transport, and a jeans sewing unit.

While no casualties have been reported so far, the fire caused extensive damage to property and livelihoods.

Preliminary estimates peg the losses at over Rs 1 crore. Warehouse owner Ashok Kumar said around 1,050 bales of goods were destroyed across two storage facilities.

The blaze has left dozens of families homeless, with many losing essential documents and household belongings. Firefighters, police personnel, and local residents worked together to evacuate people safely and contain the flames.

Authorities said the fire has largely been brought under control, and cooling operations are underway. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the incident.

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Inputs by Devender Sharma in Pilkhuwa