LUCKNOW: Hundreds of visitors narrowly escaped a major mishap on Monday afternoon after a fire broke out at the Sanatkada Fest, reducing temporary eatery canopies to ashes. Fortunately, the premises were evacuated in time, and no injuries were reported.
The fire erupted around 2 PM at the Salempur Estate ground, where the festival was being held, along with its main venue at Safed Baradari in Kaiserbagh. Lucknow’s Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Mangesh Kumar stated, “Firefighting equipment was available at the venue, but the security personnel lacked the training to use it, allowing the fire to spread rapidly and engulf food stalls within moments.” He added that although the fire was relatively small, it could have turned disastrous if not controlled promptly.
At the time of the incident, a literary session was underway, with a packed audience. As soon as the fire was reported, five fire tenders were dispatched to the scene. Fire Station Officer RK Rawat (Hazratganj) said, “The fire spread quickly as the stalls were made of jute and bamboo. The windy conditions further fuelled the flames.”
Possible cause of fire
According to fire department officials, the blaze likely originated at a food stall when hot oil used for tempering came in contact with jute, igniting the fire. Additionally, domestic gas cylinders were being used at the stalls, causing refrigerator compressors to explode. “People panicked and fled upon hearing the blasts,” said one of the first responders.
While initial findings suggest that the fire was caused during cooking, a short circuit is also being investigated as a potential cause.
Estimated losses and swift recovery
Madhavi Kukreja, founder of MSLF, estimated the financial losses could be pegged at Rs 15 lakh. However, she credited the festival’s volunteers’ fire safety training for preventing further damage. “Thanks to our volunteers and the swift response of the administration, police, and fire departments, we managed to contain the fire to just a few food stalls. Our services resumed within two hours,” said Kukreja.
She also highlighted the overwhelming support from the crowd, volunteers, and food stall owners, which helped the festival restart without major disruptions.