A fire broke out in the 13-storey building Ashirwad Tower in Dhanbad’s Jorphatak late evening.
Patna:
At least 14 people were killed and several others injured in a major fire that broke out in a multi-storey building in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad today. “The death toll is currently 14 and 11 people are undergoing treatment. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained,” Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India. The dead included 10 women and three children.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in Dhanbad fire. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. Wishing the injured a speedy recovery.”
Deeply saddened by the death of people due to fire in Dhanbad. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. Injured get well soon: PM @Narendra Modi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 31, 2023
Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that the district administration is working in an emergency and the injured are being treated.
Mr. Soren said in a Hindi tweet, “The death of people due to fire in Dhanbad is extremely heart-wrenching. The district administration is working on a war footing and treatment is being provided to the injured. I am personally monitoring it.” I am.”
Death of people due to fire in Dhanbad’s Aashirwad Tower Apartment is extremely heart-wrenching. The district administration is working on a war footing and providing treatment options to those injured in the accident. I am looking into the whole matter myself.
– Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) January 31, 2023
The fire broke out late evening at Ashirwad Tower – a 13-storey building in Jorfatak, a busy area of the city, about 160 km from state capital Ranchi. About 40 fire engines were pressed into service to douse the blaze, PTI reported quoting unnamed officials.
Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kumar said eight or 10 people have been rescued. He said that he had suffered severe burns.
“The injured are being sent to the medical college. The rescue operation is over. But we have not done the proper count yet. It will be done jointly by police and fire department personnel,” he said.
“Our immediate focus was on evacuating people. We are now conducting a final search of the area to ensure that no one is left behind,” he added.
Mr Singh, who is supervising the rescue operation along with senior police officers, said it was also not clear how the fire broke out. “Locals said that some puja was going on, but this has to be confirmed,” he added.