A large fire broke out at a restaurant located in Lalghati, the heavily trafficked locality in Bhopal, on Sunday morning, causing panic among the city residents and commuters. The restaurant situated in the vital passage of VIP Road and Airport Road caught fire from the ground floor, spreading up to the first and second floors of the building in just a few minutes.
Upon receiving the alert, five fire tenders (including 3 water tankers) were dispatched from different fire stations. Following an operation lasting several hours, Municipal Corporation personnel and firemen are believed to have brought the blaze under control.
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Locals said thick smoke was first noticed at around 7 am, when usually all the restaurants are gearing up. But the density of smoke started increasing with time. By 8.30 am, flames were seen erupting from the restaurant windows, forcing some locals to call up the fire department.
Fire officers believe the blaze started in the kitchen situated on the ground floor of the restaurant, possibly due to a short circuit or a gas leakage. Flames moved up the three-storied building in minutes.
Fire officers and firefighters found the narrow internal passageways in the building and the thick smoke a hindrance, and also to prevent any further spread, the front wall had to be broken open by a hydraulic cutter to direct water jets into the building.
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However, it has also brought the question of fire safety compliance to the attention of the concerned officials. Recently, the Urban Development and Housing Department had asked concerned officers to do a fire audit of malls, hotels and restaurants in the state.
The concerned officers are expected to check if a restaurant in a commercially and residentially prone zone has the necessary fire safety infrastructure installed or not.