Fridge short circuit blamed for house fire in Katni's Gupta Colony, no one hurt

A fire broke out suddenly in a house in Gupta Colony, near the Barhi Road overbridge in the Kotwali police station area of Katni, on Tuesday morning. A short circuit in a refrigerator kept in the house is being cited as the cause in the initial inquiry.

According to local residents, smoke began pouring out of the house on Tuesday morning, causing panic in the neighbourhood. Within minutes the fire began to spread rapidly. Residents promptly informed the fire brigade, and said they had called at 6:24 am. People living nearby were also alarmed as the blaze grew.

On receiving the call, a fire tender was dispatched from the Civil Lines fire station zone. The team reached the spot and began fighting the blaze. After some effort by the firefighters, the fire was brought under control within a short time. It did not spread to nearby houses, and the neighbouring homes were spared because it was contained in time.

The preliminary inquiry found that an electrical short circuit in the refrigerator in the house threw off a spark, and household items kept nearby then caught fire. Some of the household goods were burnt and destroyed.

No lives were lost in the incident. The extent of the loss has not yet been assessed.