Patna: In the past two days, the city experienced two fire accidents in the densely populated areas of Kankarbagh and Nehru Nagar, which could have resulted into major disasters without timely intervention. One life was lost in the fire that caught an apartment in Nehru Nagar locality on Saturday.
The fires highlighted a concerning trend – many apartments are constructed in narrow lanes, violating building regulations and making it difficult for firefighting teams to reach emergencies quickly.These narrow paths are further complicated by a tangle of low-hanging wires throughout the city.

“We are checking the details if this building — Super City Enclave — in Nehru Nagar has followed the required norms. If not, we will register an FIR with the police against those responsible for the negligence,” Patna district fire officer Manoj Kumar said. He said the firefighters faced challenges, as all three sides of the building were blocked, necessitating rooftop access for rescue operations.
Kumar added that an FIR was filed against a house owner in Kankarbagh, where a fire broke out on Friday. “We saved both males who were caught in the fire. However, the flat owner had illegally stored tyres and rubber materials in one of the flats, which exacerbated the fire’s severity,” he said.
Asked about additional obstacles faced by his team, Kumar identified the extensive network of low-lying wires as a significant hindrance. “Our firefighters regularly encounter these challenges. The department is seeking assistance from relevant authorities to resolve these issues as soon as possible,” he said, adding no property should receive electricity or water connections without a fire no objection certificate (NOC).
Nishant Ranjan, a resident of Kankarbagh, said encroachments were common, further narrowing the lanes. “Such narrow paths cannot accommodate the firefighting team in case of an emergency,” he said, calling for stricter enforcement of safety regulations. Ranjan recounted an incident where a motorcycle parked near his home in ward number 32 caught fire and firefighters struggled to access the narrow lane, forcing locals to assist in dousing the flames.

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