A massive fire broke out in a five-storey building in the Gandhi Nagar area under the Chaman Ganj police station in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday. The building, which reportedly housed an illegal shoe factory, was engulfed in flames, prompting an urgent response from the fire department.
According to news agency IANS, more than a dozen fire engines and half a dozen fire brigade vehicles were deployed to the scene. Two hours after the fire erupted, personnel were still struggling to douse the blaze. Firefighters used ladders to break into the building as nearby structures were evacuated to prevent further casualties.
VIDEO | Fire break out in a four-story building in the Chamanganj area of Kanpur. Rescue operation is currently underway. Further details awaited.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/wT1cI6OPak
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 4, 2025
Senior officials, including Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Rajesh Srivastava, arrived on-site to oversee the rescue and firefighting operations. Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
VIDEO | Fire break out in a four-story building in the Chamanganj area of Kanpur. Rescue operation is currently underway. Further details awaited.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/wT1cI6OPak
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 4, 2025
Blaze Sweeps Through 3 Villages In Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur
In a separate incident in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district, a devastating blaze swept through three villages—Chirola, Chhulla, and Bahadurpur—leaving behind a trail of destruction and tragedy. As reported by IANS, the fire claimed the life of 65-year-old Gulab Rani Bai, who could not escape the flames that gutted nearly 28 to 30 houses and properties in Chirola village, located in the Bamnaura police station area of Badamalehra tehsil.
The fire, driven by strong winds, erupted suddenly on Saturday evening following a drastic change in weather conditions. The flames quickly spread, leaving residents scrambling for safety. Police and local sources confirmed that the blaze originated near Chhulla village and soon engulfed an additional 10 to 12 homes.
Sub-divisional police officer Rohit Alawa told IANS that both Chirola and Chhulla villages suffered extensive damage. “Four children and two women sustained severe burns,” he said, adding that one individual remains in critical condition at the Chhatarpur district hospital, while others received treatment at a local hospital in Badamalehra. A team of doctors was rushed to the spot to attend to the injured.
Alawa further stated that emergency responders battled the flames for over 12 hours before finally extinguishing them. While Chirola bore the brunt of the damage, Bahadurpur saw its fields and crops affected. Local authorities are continuing relief operations, having declared the situation a natural calamity. Affected families will be provided with shelter, food, and financial aid after a full assessment of the losses.
In a similar incident on Saturday evening, a fire was reported in Majra Ramnagar of Gadhikarhiya Panchayat in the Sunwani police station area of Panna district. According to police, the blaze began in a pile of dung cakes and, aided by strong winds, reached the village. The flames first engulfed one house before spreading rapidly throughout the locality. While several homes were destroyed, no human casualties were reported. Villagers managed to save their lives and attempted to extinguish the fire themselves.
Emergency and relief efforts are ongoing in all affected areas.
