Kota (Rajasthan): On Sunday morning, a significant fire erupted in a boys’ hostel building, resulting in injuries to eight students, according to authorities. Initial findings point towards a short circuit as the likely cause of the blaze, police reported.
The incident occurred at the Adarsh Residency hostel in Laxman Vihar, prompting the Kota district administration to order the sealing of the hostel due to safety breaches and the absence of a fire NOC (no-objection certificate), stated Rakesh Vyas, a fire officer at Kota Municipal Corporation.
Rakesh Vyas mentioned that approximately 2,200 hostels in Kota-South and Kota-North have been issued notices for failing to comply with fire safety regulations. Action against these hostels is imminent, he added.
The fire broke out around 6:15 am in the Landmark City area, within the jurisdiction of the Kunhari police station, as stated by Kota (City) Superintendent of Police Amrita Duhan.
Preliminary investigations indicate a short circuit in an electric transformer located on the ground floor of the five-story hostel building as the cause of the fire. However, forensic teams are working to confirm the exact cause, according to the police.
Rakesh Vyas expressed concern over the placement of the transformer inside the hostel building, highlighting the potential for a tragic outcome if the incident had occurred at night.
Eight students sustained injuries, six of whom received minor burns and were treated at Maharao Bheem Singh (MBS) Hospital, while two were hospitalized for more severe injuries, including burns and a fractured leg, according to SP Duhan.
During the chaos, one student, Bhavishya Dungeria, described the harrowing experience of waking up to thick smoke and, along with others, choosing to jump from the first floor to escape.
The building, which has 75 rooms, was occupied by 61 students at the time of the incident.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze within an hour, preventing its spread to upper floors. All students were safely evacuated from the building, confirmed Circle Inspector Arvind Bhardwaj.
Efforts are underway to contact the parents of the affected students to provide reassurance of their safety.
In response to the incident, the Kota district collector ordered the sealing of the hostel for failure to comply with fire safety regulations, stated fire officer Vyas.
Additionally, two other hostels in the vicinity, Gyandeep and Paras Jeevandeep, were also sealed for similar violations despite prior warnings, Vyas added.
While action against non-compliant hostels is forthcoming, Vyas acknowledged the challenge posed by the occupancy of students during exam periods, hindering the immediate relocation of students to alternative accommodations.
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