Tragic Fire Incident Claims Lives of Urmila Devi, Priyanka Gupta, and Soumiya in Dhanbad

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Major Fire Claims Three Lives in Dhanbad Cosmetic Shop

Dhanbad, Jharkhand – A tragic incident unfolded in Dhanbad late on Monday night as a major fire engulfed a cosmetic shop, claiming the lives of three members of a family, including a five-year-old girl. The incident occurred at Kendua Bazar, a bustling market located 170 km away from Ranchi, the state capital.

The devastating fire was first noticed by a woman passing by the market. She immediately raised an alarm after spotting smoke billowing out of the closed shop owned by Subhash Gupta around 9:30 pm. Concerned neighbors and shopkeepers quickly rushed to the scene and broke open the shutter of the shop. However, their efforts to control the fire were in vain as it rapidly spread to adjacent shops. In total, seven shops were gutted in the blaze.

Tragically, the victims of the fire were identified as Subhash’s mother, Urmila Devi (65), his sister Priyanka Gupta (37), and his five-year-old daughter, Soumiya. Subhash, along with his brothers Sujit and Sumit, and their father Ashok Gupta, were not present in the house situated above the shop when the fire broke out. It is believed that the fire originated in Subhash’s shop before engulfing the neighboring establishments.

The fire caused extensive damage, with five of the seven shops affected belonging to Subhash and his brothers. The remaining two shops were owned by Prabhas Shoundik. The estimated loss of property exceeds Rs 10 lakh.

Due to the narrow access road leading to the market, the fire brigade faced significant challenges in reaching the scene promptly. Residents alleged that the fire brigade arrived one and a half hours after the initial distress call. However, fire officer Lakshman Prasad clarified that they reached the spot within 20 minutes of receiving the information but were hindered by the narrow road. Despite the delay, they managed to control the fire using a small fire tender and successfully rescued the trapped family members. It took over an hour to completely extinguish the flames.

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and an investigation is currently underway. The police suspect that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit or the burning of earthen lamps for Diwali celebrations. Dhanbad town commissioner, Raviraj Sharma, has formed a seven-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident thoroughly. The committee members have been instructed to submit their report by November 18.

Meanwhile, the surviving members of the family, Subhash’s wife Suman and their 19-month-old son Shivansh, are currently receiving treatment at Dhanbad Sadar Hospital. The doctors have confirmed that they are out of danger.

This tragic incident has left the community in shock and grief. The loss of lives and property is a reminder of the importance of fire safety measures and prompt emergency response. The local authorities and residents are urged to remain vigilant and ensure the necessary precautions to prevent such incidents in the future..