Barmer: A major fire broke out at the old power house located on the busy Rai Colony Road in Barmer on Tuesday afternoon, triggering panic across the area after transformer oil drums exploded one after another, sending massive clouds of black smoke into the sky.
The incident occurred between 2 PM and 3 PM at the old electricity department premises, where flames rapidly spread through the storage section of the power house. The intensity of the fire was so severe that the smoke plume could be seen from several kilometers away, while repeated explosions shook nearby residential colonies.
Fire Started Near Scrap Area, Spread Rapidly
According to preliminary information, the fire reportedly began in a pile of old scrap material near the office of the Assistant Engineer (AEN). Due to extreme heat and strong winds, the flames quickly spread to the adjoining storage room where hundreds of transformer oil drums were kept.
As the fire reached the oil storage section, multiple drums exploded in succession, intensifying the blaze and creating panic among local residents. Burning oil and debris spread toward nearby houses, raising fears of a larger disaster.
Residents Forced to Evacuate Homes
The explosions created chaos throughout the Rai Colony area as police and district administration immediately launched evacuation efforts. Several nearby homes were vacated as a precautionary measure, while residents were seen rushing out carrying LPG cylinders to avoid possible secondary explosions.
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Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as thick smoke engulfed the locality and loud blasts continued from inside the power house premises.
More Than 20 Fire Tenders Deployed
The fire soon became too large for the local municipal fire brigade to handle alone. Authorities called additional firefighting units from Cairn Energy and the Indian Air Force to assist in the operation.
Since ordinary water proved ineffective against the oil-based fire, firefighting teams used specialized foam and gas-based extinguishing systems to control the flames. More than 20 fire tenders battled the blaze for several hours before it was finally brought under control.
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Officials stated that the operation was extremely challenging because of the presence of inflammable transformer oil and electrical equipment inside the storage facility.
Crores Worth of Equipment Destroyed
The fire caused extensive financial losses to the electricity department. Newly stored electricity meters, transformers, cables, oil drums, and other electrical infrastructure materials worth crores of rupees were completely destroyed in the blaze.
A car parked inside the premises was also gutted in the fire.
Following the incident, District Collector Chinmayi Gopal and Superintendent of Police Chunaram Jat visited the site to review rescue and firefighting operations.
Administration Orders Safety Review
After inspecting the affected area, the district administration issued urgent instructions to remove scrap material from all power stations across the district and strengthen fire safety systems at electricity department facilities.
Officials from the power distribution department said the substation had suffered significant damage, which could impact electricity supply restoration in parts of the city.
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Ashok Meena, Superintending Engineer of the Discom, stated that technical teams are assessing the damage and working to restore normal power supply as soon as possible.
No Casualties Reported
Despite the scale of the fire and multiple explosions, no casualties or serious injuries were reported. Authorities confirmed that staff members and local residents were evacuated safely in time, preventing a major human tragedy.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, and officials are examining whether negligence, poor storage management, or electrical faults may have contributed to the incident.
