Fire rages in Jalandhar, K’thala, Nawanshahr villages

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 12

Fields in many villages of Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Banga caught major fire after a storm hit the area, resulting in panic among residents on Saturday evening.

Farmers had already burnt stubble in their fields, but when the duststorm hit the areas, the fire got out of control and spread menacingly.

Villages in Bhogpur, Lambra and Phalli villages in Phillaur, along with many others, were the ones that suffered in Jalandhar, while in Kapurthala, Begowal village caught fire and in Nawanshahr, villages like Dosanjh, Jandiala, Kreha, Bahlon, Mukandpur, Kajla, along with many others, were engulfed in the blaze.

Till evening, fire tenders from the head offices of the Fire Department remained busy in the villages dousing flames. Firemen said it was not possible to send fire tenders everywhere as farms in many villages had caught fire. Also, the number of fire tenders was not sufficient and these had to make several rounds to control the fire.

Raj Kumar Sharma, fire officer, Jalandhar, said no casualty was reported in the villages. Fire officer of Nawanshahr and Kapurthala Ajay Goyal said the district had three tenders which were put on duty to douse the flames.