Kanpur: A massive fire broke out in a multi-storey commercial tower in the Bansmandi area of Kanpur Municipal Police Commissioner in Uttar Pradesh and spread to neighboring towers, destroying around 500 shops. Police gave this information on Friday. According to police, the fire started on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. The fire started in AR Tower (Afaq Rasool) and quickly spread to Maqsood, Hamraj Complex and Nafees Tower, affecting about 500 shops located in these four towers.
read this too
A senior official said that the loss in the incident, including cash and property, is estimated to be around Rs 100 crore. The cause of the fire is still unknown. The official said that prima facie it appears that the fire started due to a short circuit following a severe dust storm. Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Anand Prakash Tiwari told ‘PTI-Bhasha’ that several firefighters were dispatched to the spot to put out the fire but so far it could not be brought under control.
All the neighboring districts including Kanpur Dehat, Unnao, Lucknow and Kannauj have been asked to send fire trucks to assist in the rescue operation, it said. He said fire brigade personnel have successfully contained the fire from spreading to other towers and buildings in the surrounding area. (agency)