A devastating fire erupted in a three-story building in Vikas Nagar, Sarraydhela police station area of Dhanbad, late Monday night, causing widespread panic. The blaze resulted in the tragic deaths of two individuals and left two others in critical condition. The deceased have been identified as 22-year-old Prashant Kumar, also known as Golu, and 70-year-old Chintamani Devi. Reports indicate that Prashant Kumar had recently arrived from Patna to visit his grandmother, Chintamani Devi, just 15 days prior to the incident.
At the time of the fire, a total of 15 people were inside the residence. Eight individuals were on the ground floor, three on the first floor, and four on the second floor, all asleep. The fire originated on the ground floor, rapidly filling the house with thick smoke.
Disoriented by the sudden inferno in the dead of night, residents on the first and second floors managed to escape. Local residents attempted to extinguish the flames, but the dense smoke hindered rescue efforts for those trapped on the lower level. After significant struggle, the trapped individuals were brought out, and the fire department was alerted. Three fire trucks arrived at the scene and, after approximately 1.5 hours of intense firefighting, managed to bring the blaze under control.
According to Deepak Uraon, head of the Dhanbad Fire Department, the narrow alleyway leading to the house posed a significant challenge for the fire trucks’ access. He also mentioned that the main gate was locked, suggesting more lives could have been saved had it been open. Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have started due to a short circuit, possibly involving a room heater. Chintamani Devi was reportedly using a heater in her room when she slept around midnight, with the fire being reported by others near 1 AM.
Prashant Kumar, the nephew of the house owner Kundan, and his grandmother Chintamani Devi suffered severe burns, leading to their fatalities. Six other individuals on the ground floor were also affected by the fire, with two sustaining serious injuries requiring treatment at a private hospital. Police have secured the bodies for post-mortem examination and have launched an investigation into the incident.