A massive fire that broke out late Wednesday night at a scrap warehouse in the Sarna area of Pathankot caused panic throughout the locality. Igniting around 2 AM, the fire quickly intensified, engulfing the entire warehouse. Towering flames were visible from kilometers away, while a massive plume of black smoke billowed into the sky. Preliminary estimates place the financial loss from the incident at over ₹50 lakh.
According to reports, the fire was initially confined to one section of the warehouse, but the presence of large quantities of plastic, rubber, scrap, iron materials, and other flammable items caused it to spread rapidly. Strong winds further fanned the flames, and within a short time, the entire warehouse was engulfed. News of the fire sparked panic among local residents, with many families rushing out of their homes in the middle of the night. People feared that if the fire spread further, it could engulf nearby houses and other establishments.
Fire Tenders Arrive from Gurdaspur Too
Local residents immediately alerted the fire department and the administration. Upon receiving the information, fire department teams arrived at the scene and commenced firefighting operations. Given the severity of the blaze, additional fire tenders were summoned from surrounding areas, including units dispatched from Gurdaspur.
Fire department official Bhupinder Nath stated that the department received the alert around 2 AM. Teams were immediately dispatched to the site, and seven to eight fire tenders were deployed to bring the blaze under control. The fire kept flaring up repeatedly due to the flammable materials stored in the warehouse, causing significant difficulties for relief operations. Nearby residents were distressed by the incident.
According to eyewitnesses, the entire area was engulfed in smoke shortly after the fire broke out. Many people experienced breathing difficulties. Residents remained anxious throughout the night due to the smoke and heat emanating from the fire.
Preliminary investigations suggest a short circuit as the cause of the fire. Locals claim that strong winds caused power lines to clash, generating sparks that ignited the blaze. However, the administration has clarified that the definitive cause will only be established once the investigation is complete.
A large quantity of scrap, machinery, plastic materials, and other goods stored in the warehouse was reduced to ashes in the incident. Nearby trees and plants were scorched, and the environment also suffered damage.
**Over 7 Hours of Strenuous Effort**
Firefighters battled the blaze for six to seven hours. The fire was fully brought under control between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM. Cooling operations continued for a considerable time thereafter to eliminate any risk of the fire reigniting.
Following the incident, administrative officials inspected the site and have begun assessing the damage. Fortunately, there was no loss of life in this severe incident. The investigation is currently underway, and the administration has initiated a review of safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
