Fire at Howrah garage kills one

A quiet Tuesday afternoon on Howrah’s busy Andul Road turned horrific when a bike repairing garage suddenly caught fire, killing the owner Sandip Das. Witnesses heard a loud blast-like sound followed by thick smoke and flames from the garage. Neighbours and passers-by tried to rescue Sandip, but the fire spread so fast that he was trapped inside and burnt alive

Two fire engines reached the spot quickly and stopped the flames from spreading to a nearby restaurant and other shops. Locals blames the garage was illegally storing and selling petrol and diesel, which made the fire explode in seconds when welding work on a bike produced a spark. Fire officials confirmed the blaze was brought under control, but nothing could save the owner. His charred body was recovered after the flames were fully doused.

Howrah City Police have registered a case and a forensic team is at the spot to find the exact cause. The tragedy has left Sandip’s family devastated and raised fresh concerns about illegal fuel storage in residential areas. Residents and locals along Andul Road are now demanding stricter checks on such garages to prevent another life from being lost to a stray spark.