Fires Rage Across Saoner and Kuhi

Nagpur: Firefighters battling a massive blaze at the Saoner dumping yard for nearly two days faced a major setback after unidentified miscreants allegedly reignited the fire, on a day that saw multiple blazes in Kuhi and Ashirwad Nagar stretch emergency response teams.According to sources, the blaze at Saoner had largely been brought under control after marathon firefighting efforts. However, the situation worsened after some individuals allegedly entered the dumping yard and poured an inflammable substance, suspected to be petrol or diesel, before setting sections of the waste heap ablaze again when firefighters had briefly moved away for water refilling.The dumping yard was once again engulfed in thick smoke, undoing hours of firefighting efforts. Two fire tenders from Saoner and two additional tenders from Bahadura were deployed at the site, with personnel working continuously for nearly 48 hours to contain the fire.The fresh blaze generated massive plumes of smoke, intensified by burning plastic and mixed waste materials. Fire officials said no police complaint has been lodged so far regarding the alleged act of sabotage, adding that formal procedures would be initiated once the situation is fully stabilised.On the same day, another major fire broke out at a paper mill in Kuhi. Sources said large quantities of paper and other combustible material stored at the premises may have accelerated the spread of flames amid intense heat conditions. Firefighters rushed to the site and launched operations to control the blaze.Authorities said the final assessment of damage at the paper mill is still underway, though preliminary estimates indicate substantial losses. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.Meanwhile, a short circuit in a DP box near NIT Market in Ashirwad Nagar triggered a massive fire early Monday morning, destroying a car accessories shop and several vehicles. Residents and the shop owner alleged gross negligence, claiming that fire tenders arrived nearly an hour late despite the fire station being just 500 metres away, opposite Chakradhar Nagar Garden. (Inputs by Baarsa Deb Barma)