Admin
Smoke blows after a fire broke out at Varanasi Cantt Station on Friday.(PTI)
A fire at Varanasi’s Cantt railway station, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, broke out early on Saturday and quickly engulfed the vehicle parking area. At least 200 two-wheelers were destroyed in the blaze. Dramatic footage from the scene showed towering flames consuming the parking lot as fire brigade and police teams worked tirelessly to control the situation. After a two-hour operation, the fire was finally extinguished.
The police team, along with fire crews, fought the inferno amid thick smoke and haze using water hoses. Around 12 fire trucks were deployed to the scene, with support from the Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF), and local police. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
What was the cause of the fire?
Initial investigations suggest that the fire was likely caused by a short circuit.
Eyewitnesses reported that the first short circuit occurred around 10:30 PM on Saturday, prompting electricians to address the issue. However, a few hours later, another short circuit happened. This second incident caused sparks that ignited petrol from one of the motorcycles, triggering the fire.
“Several bicycles were also caught in the blaze,” said CO GRP Kunwar Bahadur Singh, who confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway. Many of the vehicles destroyed were owned by railway employees, underscoring the personal toll of the incident.
One railway worker shared their experience with NDTV: “I parked my bike around midnight after the first short circuit was repaired at 11 PM. A few hours later, I heard from a fellow passenger about the large fire. I quickly moved my bike to safety, but unfortunately, the flames spread quickly across the parking lot.”
