A fire triggered by a short circuit engulfed four furniture showrooms in Saharanpur on Wednesday morning, causing extensive damage but no casualties, police said. The blaze broke out around 6:30 am at Ganga Furniture showroom on Dehradun Road in the Khanalampura area and rapidly spread to three adjoining establishments: Shakti Furniture, Aman Furniture, and Naman Furniture.
Panic and Response
Thick black smoke and flames created panic among residents living behind the market. Many began moving cooking gas cylinders and valuables out of their homes, fearing the fire could spread further. Eight fire tenders were rushed to the scene, and firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after nearly three hours of efforts.
Damage and Losses
Furniture owners and local residents opened the shutters of ground-floor showrooms and shifted furniture onto the road to prevent it from being destroyed. However, the upper floors, used for furniture manufacturing, suffered extensive damage as wood, rexine, jute, and other chemicals stored there fueled the flames. Goods worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed, an official said.
Investigation
Janakpuri police station in-charge Nem Chand Singh said the exact cause of the fire is under investigation, but prima facie it appears to have been triggered by a short circuit. No casualties have been reported in the incident.
