Fire at cooking oil warehouse in Patna, losses exceed Rs 50 lakh

Patna, June 29 (IANS) A fire broke out at a cooking oil warehouse in Karmalichak on Mahuli Road under the Didarganj police station area of Patna, triggering a large-scale firefighting operation, officials said on Monday.

The blaze, which started on Sunday night, spread rapidly due to the highly inflammable oil stored inside the warehouse, engulfing the entire premises within a short time.

As the fire intensified, the district administration alerted all fire stations across Patna. A total of 25 fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the blaze.

Firefighters worked throughout the night, using special foam compounds along with water to extinguish the flames. According to an official, the warehouse contained large quantities of Dalda, refined oil, and mustard oil stored in drums.

The combustible nature of these products caused the fire to spread rapidly, making firefighting operations extremely challenging.

Ajay Kumar Sharma, an officer of the Patna City Fire Station, said that extinguishing oil fires is particularly difficult because water alone is often ineffective. “Therefore, firefighters deployed foam compounds alongside water to suppress the flames and prevent further spread,” he said.

Preliminary investigations reveal that a short circuit may have triggered the fire. However, officials stated that the exact cause would only be confirmed after the fire is completely extinguished and a detailed inquiry is conducted.

The incident caused extensive damage to the warehouse, with property losses estimated to exceed Rs 50 lakh.

A bread factory located adjacent to the warehouse was successfully protected by the fire department, preventing the fire from spreading further and averting a larger disaster.

Since the area is primarily designated for warehouses, no workers or residents were present at the site when the fire broke out. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported.

The fire also created difficulties for local commuters. Oil flowing from the burning warehouse spread onto nearby roads and pathways, making them extremely slippery and disrupting vehicular traffic in the area.

Firefighters continued operations until morning to bring the blaze fully under control.

–IANS

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