Siwan's Qayyum Market Gutted: ₹50 Lakh Lost in Massive Blaze
A devastating fire at Siwan's Qayyum Market caused losses over ₹50 lakh, hampered by Dussehra fair crowds and a lack of firefighting equipment.
A devastating fire ripped through the Qayyum Market near P Devi More in Siwan, Bihar, on Monday evening, leaving a trail of destruction and estimated financial losses exceeding ₹50 lakh. What could have been a swiftly contained incident turned into a nightmare as chaos and systemic failures hindered the emergency response.
Dussehra Crowds and Traffic Gridlock
The timing of the blaze coincided with the festive fervor of the Dussehra fair, which proved to be a critical obstacle for emergency services. Heavy traffic congestion and massive crowds surrounding the area created a bottleneck, significantly delaying the arrival of the first fire tenders at the scene.
While four fire trucks managed to reach the location initially, the intensity of the flames continued to grow, rendering the initial effort insufficient. This escalation forced authorities to call for reinforcements from neighboring blocks and the nearby Gopalganj district.
A Desperate Battle Against Flames
The scale of the operation eventually grew to include approximately 20 fire tenders and a team of 20 firefighters. However, the battle against the fire was plagued by a severe scarcity of water. In a desperate bid to extinguish the blaze, firefighting personnel were forced to source water from local hotels and a nearby petrol pump.
The grueling operation lasted for approximately five hours before the fire was finally brought under control.
Shocking Lapses in Safety and Administration
The incident has sparked outrage over the lack of preparedness and equipment provided to first responders. Reports from the ground revealed a startling lack of standard safety gear; firefighters were seen working without proper masks. Even more concerning was the absence of adequate lighting equipment, forcing the brave personnel to rely on mobile phone torches and the flashlights of media members to navigate the smoke and debris.
Administrative Delay
The response from the local administration also came under heavy scrutiny. High-ranking officials, including DDC Amitabh Singh, SDO Ashutosh Gupta, and SDPO Pranjal, reportedly arrived at the site nearly two hours after the fire had broken out, raising serious questions about the coordination of the district's emergency leadership.
Questions Over Public Safety
Statements have been recorded from District Fire Officer Avinash Kumar and DDC Amitabh Singh as part of the aftermath. However, the incident has left the community questioning the efficiency of traffic control and the adequacy of firefighting arrangements during major public festivals, where the risk of such disasters is heightened.