Varanasi: A major fire broke out at a hardware shop in Madanpura under Dashashwamedh police station area on Thursday afternoon. A crowd gathered on both banks of ghats along Ganga to witness IAF’s air show noticed smoke rising.The shop stored inflammable items, including brooms, paint, putty and plastic, while upper floors had rooms with beds, causing flames to spread rapidly. Fire tenders from Bhelupur and Chetganj rushed to the spot within minutes.Chief fire officer Anand Singh Rajput said more units were called in while firefighters rescued one youth trapped amid dense smoke. After nearly two hours, 10 fire engines brought the blaze under control, with no casualties and minimal property damage reported by authorities. The cause of the fire was being assessed by the officials.
