Fire engulfs building at Hospital road, offices of Star Union Dai-ichi & SBI Life burnt

September 28: On the morning of Mahalaya, Ambikapur Purba Para & Hospital Road Puja Committee were celebrating the centenary of their Durga Puja. It was indeed a carnival over there and a function was going on in their puja pandal. All of a sudden, they saw flames coming out of the 1st floor of the commercial complex ‘Food & Flavour’ at Hospital Road point. A hue and cry was raised at once.

This commercial complex apart from having a food and confectionery stire at the ground floor also houses offices of Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. and SBI Life Insurance. Moreover, Biswajit Paul, the proprietor of Food and Flavours stays with his family in the same building.

As the programme was going on, there were a good number of people over there. Moreover, as it was Mahalaya, the streets were also crowded. People started running towards the building on fire and tried to douse the fire but in vain. Meanwhile, the puja committee members called the fire brigade. One after another, a total of 5 fire engines rushed to the spot.

Fire spread very rapidly in the top floors of the commercial building. Biswajit Paul and his family were safely brought out from their flat. However, one person sustained minor injuries. As it was early morning, so none was there in the offices of Star Union Dai-ichi and SBI Life. However, both the offices were gutted in fire. It took more than an hour for the fire tenders to bring the fire under control. Prima facie evidence leads to the assumption that the fire broke out due to short circuit. The exact cause of the fire can be ascertained only after the Fire Service Department gives their report.

Meanwhile, it was indeed a narrow escape for the nearby houses and the puja pandal of Ambikapur Purba Para & Hospital Road Puja Committee which is just on the opposite of the commercial building which was on fire.