A devastating fire broke out at Gopal Motor Garage near Banjari Mor in the Nagar police station area of Gopalganj, Bihar, on Friday afternoon. The incident has raised serious concerns over non-compliance of mandatory fire safety regulations in commercial establishments.

According to reports, the blaze erupted at Gopal Motor Garage and quickly spread, engulfing around 20 cars parked inside. Thick clouds of black smoke and towering flames were seen rising from the garage. The fire reportedly was triggered off by a short circuit and quickly spread across the garage. Initial reports say more than two dozen cars that had been parked there for repairs were completely gutted, along with two machines belonging to a mobile tower company. The estimated loss from the incident has been put at ₹25 lakh. Fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and managed to bring the flames under control after considerable effort.

Since the garage is located in a residential area, panic spread among local residents. As a precaution, the administration evacuated people from nearby houses to prevent any danger. Police and administrative officials are now assessing the extent of the damage. The incident is believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, though the final assessment is awaited. Fortunately, the immediate priority remained controlling the fire and ensuring the safety of residents in the surrounding area.