Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal

Bhopal, Apr 10: Gwalior was rocked by a massive fire in the early hours of Thursday, as a blaze tore through a three-story building in Khasgi Bazar, leaving two firefighters injured and the structure completely destroyed. The fire was intensified by the explosion of five LPG cylinders stored inside a basement factory.

The fire broke out between 2:30 and 3:00 a.m. in the Kalan Gopal building, which houses a thread manufacturing unit in its basement. Police reports indicate the fire quickly engulfed the structure due to the highly flammable materials stored inside, spreading rapidly to five flats on the upper floors.

Seven families lived in the building, all of whom managed to escape in time after spotting the flames and alerting authorities. The fire department and police responded swiftly, but the situation escalated as five gas cylinders exploded in succession, fueling the inferno.

“The fire is under control now and, fortunately, there was no loss of human life,” confirmed Deputy Superintendent of Police Manish Yadav. However, two firefighters — Purushottam and Lokendra — sustained burn injuries while attempting to douse the flames and were immediately hospitalized.

The explosions made firefighting efforts especially perilous. Backup teams, including the Air Force fire brigade, were deployed to bring the situation under control, and the blaze was fully contained by mid-morning.

Residents recalled waking up to thick smoke and the sound of blasts as they rushed to evacuate their homes in panic. Emergency responders arrived as the fire reached the upper floors, mounting a coordinated and risky effort to extinguish the fire and prevent further damage.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, with initial suspicion pointing to a possible short circuit. Officials are also examining the legality of the factory’s operations and the storage of hazardous materials in a residential building.