Lucknow: The devastating fire in Vikas Nagar, which rendered 1,000 people homeless and gutted 280 shanties, was triggered by an electrical short circuit and it intensified rapidly because of multiple LPG cylinders kept in cramped spaces, says fire department’s detailed assessment of the incident.Officials said the blaze originated from an electrical fault, suspected to be caused by faulty wiring or overloading. But the fire spread all over because of highly congested layout of shanties in the area. The structures were built in close proximity with little or no spacing between them, allowing the flames to spread swiftly from one unit to another.The situation was further aggravated by careless storage of several domestic LPG cylinders within the shanties. Fire officials noted that multiple cylinders were kept in unsafe conditions, and their bursting intensified the fire. Heat and flames reacted with these cylinders to escalate the blaze significantly, creating high-risk environment for residents as well as the firefighters.Fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and personnel faced considerable challenges in controlling the blaze because of narrow access lanes, dense habitation and constant threat of cylinder explosions. Firefighters had to proceed with extreme caution to prevent any blasts.Despite the severity of the incident, no loss of life was reported, though substantial damage to property and belongings was recorded. Authorities are currently assessing the extent of the destruction.The fire department has highlighted the incident as a serious reminder of the dangers posed by unsafe electrical practices and improper storage of LPG cylinders, especially in densely populated and unplanned settlements.Residents have been urged to maintain safe distances between structures wherever possible, avoid overloading electrical systems, and ensure that LPG cylinders are stored and handled in accordance with prescribed safety norms.Officials reiterated that strict adherence to fire safety guidelines is crucial to preventing such incidents from escalating into large-scale disasters.
