Panic gripped the Shridand area near the historic Shrimandir late last night after a massive fire engulfed a main electrical transformer. The blaze, which raged for over an hour, blanketed the vicinity in thick smoke before fire teams could contain the situation.
Two fire tenders rushed to the spot and battled the flames until late into the night, successfully preventing the fire from spreading to nearby electrical lines or residential structures. While the transformer was completely reduced to ashes, no casualties were reported.
Investigation Underway:
Authorities are exploring two primary angles regarding the cause:
Technical Failure: Initial reports suggest a potential short circuit within the aging infrastructure.
Foul Play: Local residents allege that the cover of darkness in Shridand often attracts intoxicated youths. It is suspected that a discarded cigarette or bidi may have ignited the blaze.
The fire department has launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident.