Double Blast Levels Kalikpur Bazar Eatery; Fire Brigade Prevents Spread to Nearby Homes
Key Points:
- Two gas cylinders explode sequentially at Kalikpur Bazar hotel in Potka
- Hotel gutted completely; two other cylinders removed to avert bigger disaster
- Fire brigade and police rush to scene; no casualties reported
POTKA- A hotel at Kalikpur Bazar in Potka block of East Singhbhum district was reduced to ashes on Sunday after two gas cylinders exploded in quick succession.
The incident occurred while hotel staff were busy preparing food items. A fire broke out suddenly near the regulator of a gas cylinder. It spread rapidly and grew out of control within minutes.
Staff members and customers present at the time evacuated promptly. As a result, no casualties were reported in the incident. Local residents attempted to douse the flames. However, the fire had already spread too fast to be controlled manually.
A second cylinder, kept nearby, was engulfed by the fire. It exploded shortly after the first blast, destroying the entire establishment. Meanwhile, two additional cylinders were pulled out to safety in time. This quick action by bystanders prevented a potentially larger explosion.
Hotel fires in the region have raised recurring concerns about gas cylinder safety. In this case, a source at the scene said the blaze was intense. “The flames were visible from a considerable distance,” the source noted.
On receiving information, Potka police station personnel arrived at the spot promptly. They also alerted the fire department immediately. The fire brigade team reached the location and battled hard to bring the blaze under control.
Several residential houses were situated in the vicinity of the hotel. There was a real danger of the fire spreading to those dwellings. However, the alertness of local residents and the swift response of the fire department ensured the blaze did not reach neighbouring homes.
An assessment of the financial losses caused by the fire incident is currently under way. The hotel has been completely destroyed in the blaze. Gas cylinder safety in commercial kitchens in Jamshedpur and surrounding areas has been a recurring concern for authorities.
