200 vehicles destroyed in massive fire at Varanasi Cantt station parking area

A massive fire broke out early Saturday morning at the vehicle parking area of Varanasi’s Cantt railway station in Uttar Pradesh, completely destroying over 200 vehicles, including motorcycles, bicycles, and cycles. The blaze began in the early hours, and by the time emergency services arrived, it had rapidly spread across the entire parking lot. The fire engulfed a large number of two-wheelers, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The incident prompted an immediate response from emergency services, with 12 fire engines and several firefighting units dispatched to the scene. The Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF), and local police also worked together to manage the situation. Visuals from the scene showed towering flames and a heavy smoke plume rising from the parking lot, making it difficult for officials to approach the fire initially. Firefighters used water hoses to control the blaze and eventually succeeded in extinguishing it after two hours of intense effort.

Initial investigations point to a short circuit as the cause of the fire. According to Kunwar Bahadur Singh, the CO of GRP, “There were some cycles too that have been burnt... The fire was due to a short circuit. We are conducting further investigations.” Preliminary reports suggest that the electrical issue may have occurred hours before the fire broke out. Some witnesses indicated that a short circuit had been identified and repaired earlier in the evening.

Most of the vehicles destroyed in the fire belonged to railway employees who regularly parked their two-wheelers in the designated area. One employee shared his experience, stating, “I parked my bike around 12 am. Later, I was informed by a passenger that a large fire had broken out. I quickly moved my bike to the other side of the lot to avoid it, but the fire soon spread throughout the entire parking area.”

The fire’s impact was substantial, as the affected area contained motorcycles, bicycles, and other vehicles used by railway personnel, resulting in significant property loss. Authorities have confirmed that the fire was fully extinguished after two hours, but the damage to the vehicles was extensive. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, and authorities are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the electrical issues that may have contributed to the incident.

A massive #fire at #Varanasi Cantt Railway Station's parking lot destroyed over 200 vehicles, including bikes and cycles. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. #Firefighters worked for hours to control the blaze. Cause likely a short circuit.#RailwayStation #UttarPradesh #UP pic.twitter.com/arvqeNusWg

— Taaza TV (@taazatv) November 30, 2024