A major fire broke out late on Friday night near Eidgah Chauraha in Kanpur, engulfing three garages and destroying two cars before firefighters could bring the blaze under control. The incident triggered panic in the area, with thick smoke and flames quickly spreading through the repair units located close to the busy crossing.
According to early reports, the fire is believed to have started due to a short circuit around 11:30 pm. Once the flames erupted, materials stored inside the garages—including oxygen cylinders and mobil oil containers—began exploding, making the situation more dangerous and intensifying the fire. Residents and shopkeepers in the vicinity rushed out as the fire spread rapidly through the garage premises.
Firefighters were alerted soon after the blaze was noticed and teams reached the spot to douse the flames. However, by the time the fire was brought under control, significant damage had already been done. Two cars parked inside the garages were completely gutted, while the garage structures and stored equipment also suffered heavy losses.
The incident once again highlights the fire-safety risks in congested commercial areas where garages, fuel-related materials and repair shops operate in close proximity. The presence of oxygen cylinders and oil drums made the blaze particularly hazardous, increasing the possibility of a larger accident if the fire had not been contained in time.
Police and fire department officials are expected to carry out a detailed assessment of the damage and determine the exact cause of the short circuit. While no casualties have been reported so far, the fire has left local residents alarmed and raised fresh concerns about safety compliance in crowded garage clusters across the city.
The incident at Eidgah Chauraha is part of a worrying pattern of garage fires in the region, where electrical faults and stored flammable materials often turn routine repair shops into high-risk zones.
