Several shops gutted after fire breaks out in Hardoi

HARDOI: A massive fire brokeout near the Naveen Vegetable Market in Hardoi In the early hours of Friday. Nearly half a dozen shops were engulfed in the fire, which triggered panic among locals and shopkeepers.

According to reports from ANI, the blaze started around 1:30 am at a sweet shopand then rapidly spread to nearby establishments in the congested market area.Nearby residents and night-time vendors were the first to notice the flames and promptly alerted the fire department. Videos of the incident are circulating widely on social media, showing towering flames and locals trying to move goods away from the fire. Loud explosions were also reportedly heard during the blaze after gas cylinders caught fire, further intensifying panic in the area.

After reaching the fire-hit Naveen Vegetable Market area, firefighters immediately launched an operation to prevent the blaze from spreading further. Since the area was densely packed and had narrow lanes, the operation became difficult. However, after nearly one-and-a-half hours, the situation was brought under control. According to ANI, multiple fire tenders were deployed at the spot to contain the flames.

No casualties or injuries have been reported so far, but the incident caused substantial damage to property and goods. Sweets, furniture,grocery items, electrical appliances and other stock stored inside the shopswere reduced to ashes. Shopkeepers gathered at the market in the morning as cooling operations continued and officials began assessing the damage.The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. However, preliminary suspicion points towards a possible short circuit, though authorities said a proper investigation would be conducted before confirming the reason behind the incident.

Police personnel also reached the spot to manage the crowd and maintain security in the area.In densely packed commercial areas of Uttar Pradesh, fires during the summer months are not uncommon. The Hardoi fire incident has once again raised concerns over fire safety arrangements in busy local markets, especially regarding electrical wiring, storage practices and emergency accessroutes.(With inputs from ANI)