Fire engulfs BJP leader’s house in Hisar, short circuit suspected

Hisar: Panic gripped a residential area in Hisar on Sunday evening after a major fire broke out at the house of former Haryana health minister and BJP leader Dr Kamal Gupta.The blaze, which reportedly started from the drawing room, spread rapidly, forcing family members to escape through a neighbour's terrace.According to officials, the incident occurred around 4 pm when smoke and flames were noticed emerging from the house. Dr Gupta, his wife and his mother were present inside the house at the time of the incident. As the fire intensified and spread towards the staircase, the main exit route was blocked.Dr Gupta said his wife and mother managed to save themselves by climbing onto the terrace of a neighbouring house before being brought down safely. The locals immediately alerted the fire department after noticing the blaze.Two fire tenders rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after nearly 25 minutes. Preliminary investigation suggested an electrical short circuit might have caused the fire, though the exact reason is yet to be ascertained.The drawing room of the house was completely gutted in the incident, with furniture, electronic appliances and other household items reduced to ashes. No casualty or injury was reported. The police and Dial 112 teams also reached the spot and inspected the scene.Dr Kamal Gupta later said that the drawing room was locked when the fire suddenly broke out and that the family's timely escape prevented a major tragedy.A prominent BJP leader from Hisar, Dr Gupta has represented the Hisar assembly constituency twice, winning the elections in 2014 and 2019. He also served as Haryana's health minister.