Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, April 25
Six people were feared killed while over four dozen sustained injuries after a massive fire broke out in the multi-storey Pal Hotel located just opposite the junction in Bihar’s capital Patna on Thursday morning.
The fire was reported around 10:30 in the morning and within about half an hour the entire building was filled with fire and smoke. The blaze also reached the building adjacent to the hotel and only fire and smoke were visible from both the buildings. A Kirana store located adjacent was also gripped in the devastating fire.
The disaster relief team along with the police authorities swung into action. Over 50 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, which comes under the limits of Kotwali police. However, it failed to immediately control the blaze. The structure and the locality created hurdles in the operation. There was a huge traffic jam on the bridge located in front of the building and the station road was also completely blocked.
Officials said about one and a half hours after the fire, the body of a person was taken out. Later, the bodies of two girls were recovered. The officials confirmed the death of three persons and said the condition of five to six of the about 50 injured was critical. The injured have been admitted to PMCH.
Later in the afternoon, three critically injured persons succumbed to their burn injuries in the hospital during treatment.
Local people say that the fire that broke out in the kitchen soon engulfed the four-storey building. Hotel guests having breakfast on the upper floor were trapped. The devastation unleashed panic in the area as people deserted hotels and shops to come out on the road.
The officials said over three dozen people have been evacuated safely from the hotel. The fire could not be brought under full control till the filing of this report in the afternoon.
