Bhopal, November 9 – A huge blaze erupted Sunday evening in a timber stockyard near the Pul Patra Bridge sawmill area, quickly turning a pile of seasoned wood into a roaring inferno that threatened nearby homes.
The fire started around 7:30 p.m. in the middle of the yard. Witnesses say a crackling sound turned into a sudden explosion, and within seconds the logs caught fire. Flames leapt 50‑60 feet high, while thick black smoke filled the night sky.
Firefighters from the city’s Bhopal station reacted fast. Twenty‑five fire engines – including water‑bowser trucks, foam tenders and hydraulic platforms – raced to the scene. “We tried to put it out with two tankers first, but the fire was too intense,” said a brigade officer. “Every gust of wind pushes it to new spots like a tinderbox.”
By 9 p.m. the blaze was still not under control. The fire has already consumed an area the size of three football fields. Heat from the flames has melted metal shutters of nearby workshops, and officials warn that the wind – currently blowing at 15‑20 km/h – could carry embers toward storage buildings that hold chemicals.
The police have shut down a 1‑km radius around the stockyard to keep residents safe and are coordinating with firefighters to prevent casualties and secondary blasts. Traffic on the Pul Patra Bridge and surrounding arterial roads has been rerouted, causing gridlock in the area.
Investigators suspect several possible causes: an electrical short‑circuit, discarded cigarette butts, or even deliberate arson. A forensic team will examine the site once the heat subsides, probably after dawn.
The timber stockyard belongs to several sawmill operators and contained more than 50,000 cubic feet of teak, sal and plywood logs, worth several lakh rupees.
With the fire still raging, Bhopal’s emergency services remain on high alert as the community watches the night unfold.
Source: ianslive
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