Firefighter dies in bid to save burning crop

SHAHJAHANPUR: A firefighter lost his life while attempting to douse a blaze in Kusumipur village of Maigalganj block in Lakhimpur Kheri district on Friday. According to sources, a large branch of a banyan tree fell on the firefighter leading to severe injuries on his head. He was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital, but was declared dead by doctors on arrival.
On Friday early morning, someone allegedly set ablaze the standing cane crop in a field owned by local farmer Munesh Singh in Kusumipur village. The fire soon engulfed a banyan tree and threatened to destroy the standing wheat crop too. A call was made to the fire department and soon a firefighting truck was sent to the village. As the firefighters started their work, local villagers also assisted them in controlling the blaze. After their hard work, the fire was doused. However, suddenly, a large branch of the burnt tree was separated from its trunk and fell on firefighter Kamalkant Tiwari and two local villagers. Eyewitnesses said Kamalkant immediately lost consciousness and died after some time, while the other two persons, identified as Ajay Pratap Singh and Kuldeep Singh, got injured. However, their injuries were not grave and they were discharged from the hospital in the evening.
55 years old Kamalkant Tiwari was a resident of Sitapur district and was posted at the fire station in Gola city of Lakhimpur Kheri district. He was recently shifted to Maigalganj on a temporary basis. His death came as a huge shock to his co-workers and his family members. His body was handed over to his kin after its postmortem.
Station officer of Maigalganj police station, Ghanshyam Ram said, “This incident was unexpected as everyone was trying to save the crop of farmers. Suddenly from nowhere, the branch fell on a firefighter and two local villagers. The firefighter was grievously injured and died on his way to the hospital. We have compiled the necessary report about this incident which would be crucial for the affected family to claim compensation.”