Mobile shop gutted, owner, friend hurt

A massive fire broke out late last night at NS Mobile World, a mobile shop located near the Rattanpura railway crossing, causing extensive damage and injuries. The blaze rapidly engulfed the entire store, reducing it to ashes within minutes.

The shop owner, Nitish Kumar, a resident of Vikas Nagar, shared that he had stepped out with his friend to purchase medicines from a hospital. Upon returning, he checked the CCTV footage of his store and was alarmed to find the cameras turned off — raising serious suspicion.

Nitish, accompanied by his colleague Deepak Kumar, rushed to the shop to investigate. As they opened the door, a powerful explosion occurred, leaving both men with burn injuries. They were immediately taken to a nearby private hospital for treatment.

Nitish reported a financial loss amounting to several lakhs of rupees, as the entire shop was destroyed in the fire. The Fire Brigade team responded promptly after receiving the alert just past midnight and managed to bring the blaze under control.

Fire Officer Kamal confirmed the swift response but stated that the exact cause of the fire remains unknown. Investigations are currently underway.

Fire Officer Kamal confirmed that the shop's shutter had been severely damaged by the blast, which was possibly caused by a mobile phone or related device. While the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, initial reports suggest that a short-circuit could have played a role in the outbreak.

In addition to the damage to the store, more than 30 chickens from a nearby poultry shop were tragically lost in the fire.

The shop’s owner, Kumar, expressed his distress over the incident, noting the significant financial loss, which is expected to run into lakhs of rupees. The Fire Brigade's quick response prevented the situation from escalating further.