Jaipur, Nov 9 — Diwali celebrations turned tragic in Falna town of Pali district of Rajasthan after a massive fire broke out at a firecracker shop near the town's main intersection late Monday night, claiming the lives of a Congress municipal councillor and her husband, officials said on Monday.
The deceased were identified as Congress councillor Usha Poonamiya, who represented Ward 23 of the Khudala-Falna Municipality, and her husband, Prakash.
Another person, Gautam Chand Poonamiya, sustained severe burn injuries and was referred to Jodhpur for treatment.
The fire broke out around 11 p.m. at a firecracker shop located near the Swarn Mandir (Golden Temple) at the main intersection in Falna.
According to locals, a spark triggered the blaze, which spread rapidly due to the presence of firecrackers, engulfing adjoining grocery and battery shops.
The incident sparked panic in the area, with a large crowd gathering on the spot as flames spread through the commercial establishments.
During the rescue operation, Usha Poonamiya's body was recovered from the underground section of the shop. Her husband also died in the fire.
Meanwhile, Gautam Chand sustained severe burn injuries and was shifted to Jodhpur for further medical treatment. The bodies of the deceased have been kept in the mortuary at Falna Government Hospital.
Given the intensity of the blaze, fire tenders were summoned from Falna, Khudala, Bali and Sumerpur. A total of five fire tenders were deployed to put out the fire. The firefighting and rescue operation continued for nearly six hours, with efforts lasting until around 5 a.m. on Monday, before the blaze was brought under control.
The operation also involved searching for people who might have been trapped inside the premises.
As a precautionary measure, the local electricity supply was disconnected to prevent further danger. The fire is estimated to have caused property losses worth lakhs of rupees, as several adjoining shops were also affected.
After receiving information about the incident, Falna police reached the spot and initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the fire. The incident has cast a pall of gloom over Falna, turning the Diwali celebrations into a tragedy for the town.