Fire breaks out at 6 shops opposite Amity University:Cylinder blast kills one; 6 fire engines douse flames in 30 minutes

A fire broke out at around six tea and snack shops opposite Amity University in Sector 125, Noida, on Saturday afternoon. The flames spread rapidly through the tin-shed shops. Small LPG cylinders were heard exploding, triggering panic at the scene. During firefighting and rescue operations, a man was found unconscious. He was taken to the district hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The deceased was identified as Sahil Sharma. The police have sent the body for a post-mortem. A plume of black smoke from the fire was visible from around 2 km away. People recorded videos of the incident from nearby buildings, which later went viral on social media. Around 20 minutes after receiving the alert, five fire engines reached the spot and began firefighting operations. First, take a look at these three pictures Fire spread rapidly after cylinders exploded; rescue operation lasted an hour The tea and food stalls opposite Amity University were made of tin sheds. The fire spread from one shop to another. During the incident, small cylinders kept at some shops exploded, causing the flames to intensify. After the fire was extinguished, the shops were filled with thick smoke. To check whether anyone was trapped inside, firefighters entered wearing fire jackets and oxygen kits. The rescue operation continued for around an hour. During the operation, one person was brought out and taken to hospital, but he could not be saved. Rescue operation lasted an hour Firefighters also removed six to seven partially burnt cylinders from the shops. They cooled them by spraying water to eliminate the risk of another fire or explosion. The goods kept inside the shops were reduced to ashes in the blaze. Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Pradeep Kumar said the fire was extensive and engulfed the entire cluster of tin-shed shops. A large number of LPG cylinders were found inside the shops. Vehicular movement on the road halted The shops were located along a road approximately 45 metres wide. Vehicular movement was stopped during firefighting and relief operations. A crowd gathered at the scene. According to officials, the cause of the fire is not yet known and is being investigated. The shops are reportedly believed to have been built illegally. As the college was closed at the time of the incident, there were fewer customers at the shops and several of them were shut. This helped avert a bigger tragedy. The police have sent the deceased’s body for a post-mortem and initiated further proceedings.