Three individuals lost their lives while over a dozen others sustained injuries in a massive fire that swept through three hotel buildings, situated a mere 50 meters from Patna Junction. The incident took place on Thursday morning.
According to a statement from a fire brigade official, one body was recovered from the engulfed Hotel Pal, while the lifeless remains of a mother and her daughter were found in the adjacent Hotel Amrit. The official warned that the casualty count may rise as the situation unfolds.
The fire, fueled by strong winds, quickly engulfed the buildings, consuming not only the hotels but also several vehicles parked nearby, including cars, motorcycles, and auto-rickshaws.
Emergency responders sprang into action, with firefighting teams and rescue personnel rushing to the scene. Despite facing challenges posed by congested roads, the fire brigade managed to rescue several individuals stranded on the rooftops of the burning buildings. Many of the rescued victims were transported to the Patna Medical College Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Dr. IS Thakur, the medical superintendent of the hospital, confirmed the grim toll of the tragedy, stating that three individuals had been pronounced dead upon arrival, with several others admitted with varying degrees of burn injuries. Efforts to save the critically injured are ongoing, with medical staff working to stabilize their conditions.
Shobha Ohotkar, Director General cum Commandant of the Home Guard and Fire Services, lauded the efforts of the firefighting teams amidst challenging circumstances. She emphasized the importance of fire safety measures and urged hotel owners to prioritize the implementation of such protocols to prevent future tragedies.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos and desperation as the fire raged on, efforts of emergency responders, the inferno caused extensive damage to the properties and claimed precious lives.