1,500 shanties gutted in fire at Dhobi Ghat in Lucknow's Aishbagh

LUCKNOW: A minor girl sustained burns while as many as 1,500 shanties were gutted in a massive fire which broke out at Dhobi Ghat in Ramnagar area of Aishbagh on late Sunday night.
While the residents alleged foul play apprehending role of some mischief maker, the police said that the fire broke out after a gas cylinder caught fire. The fire was doused after four hours.

According to the police, the fire broke out around 12.30am in a shanty of Babu Ram and soon it engulfed the neighbouring shanties one by one.

The inmates ran away from their shanties to save their family members and their own lives. The inmates also informed the police and fire department. By the time the firemen reached place, the violent fire had engulfed over 100 shanties. As many as 1,500 shanties were gutted by the time cops doused the fire.
“No casualty was reported while loss of property is being estimated. The inmates are yet to lodge any complaint,” said Lucknow Police commissioner, Sujeet Pandey, who also reached the spot to supervise the operations.
Pandey said that the occupants residing in the shanties belonged to different districts of UP and worked as labourers.
Chief fire officer of Lucknow, Vijay Kumar Singh, said that 15 fire tenders were pressed in the job to douse the fire flames. The fire broke out after a gas cylinder caught fire. Thereafter, as many as six other cylinders also caught fire and several rounds of explosion was also witnessed.
Police said that a minor girl received minor burns but was stable and out of danger.