Panic ensued on Saturday morning when a fire suddenly broke out at the IDBI Bank branch located on Railway Station Road, Kapurthala. Upon seeing smoke billowing from the bank, people immediately alerted the fire department. Acting swiftly on the information, a four-member team led by Fire Officer Gurpreet Singh arrived at the scene with a fire tender and began firefighting operations.
According to the fire department, the report of smoke emanating from the bank was received around 5:59 AM on Saturday. The team arrived, entered the premises, and began efforts to bring the blaze under control. The fire was fully extinguished after about half an hour of effort. Preliminary investigations suggest a short circuit as the likely cause of the fire, though the exact reason will only be confirmed after a detailed inquiry. Officials stated that the fire damaged important documents, furniture, and other items inside the bank. Preliminary estimates indicate a loss running into lakhs of rupees, with a detailed assessment currently underway. Locker area and cash safe.
A saving grace in the incident was that the bank’s locker area remained completely safe; the fire did not spread to that section, and the lockers sustained no damage. The cash kept in the bank is also reported to be safe.
Currently, the fire department and bank management are assessing the damage. While a short circuit is suspected to be the primary cause, the exact reason for the fire and the total extent of the loss will only become clear once the investigation is complete.
