Over 200 shanties gutted in Noida fire

Noida: In a major fire incident, over 200 shanties were gutted in fire that broke out in Barola area of Noida on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. Officials suspect a short circuit in one of the shanties was responsible for the blaze. While there was no loss of human life, the residents lost their important documents, clothes, valuables and other household goods in the fire.

According to reports, a short-circuit occurred at around 1 am on Monday in one of the shanties built in an open ground in Barola village under sector 49 of Noida and triggered the fire. The slum area sparked the fire which engulfed an LPG cylinder. The cylinder blast spread fire to nearby houses in which other cylinders went off and the fire turned uncontrollable.

Around hundred small LPG cylinders blasted as the fire became massive gutting more than 200 shanties. Heavy damage was reported till the fire tenders reached the spot. No casualties were reported but many were left stranded in the scorching sun on Monday morning.

Fire officials said that around a dozen fire tenders were pressed into action and the flames were doused after six hours of efforts.

While the station officer reported that 120 shanties have been damaged, locals claimed that the number was over 200. Locals also alleged that the fire tenders reached late at the spot even after several calls were made to them.

"Despite numerous calls, the fire brigade reached the spot after one and a half hour," said Yaseen, a resident of the area. He added that the fire spread quite quickly, forcing everyone out of their houses.

The slum area is built at a vacant plot and around 200 families reside over there. Most of them belong to Bengal, Bihar and eastern part of the country and work as daily waged labourers, rickshaw pullers and house help in nearby societies. The fire has left them with no food, clothes or shelter.