Patna warehouse fire: ₹50 lakh loss as 25 tenders battle cooking oil blaze
Synopsis
A cooking oil warehouse in Patna's Karmalichak area went up in flames on Sunday night, with 25 fire tenders battling the blaze through the night using foam compounds. The fire, likely triggered by a short circuit, caused losses exceeding ₹50 lakh — but zero casualties, thanks to the area being a warehousing zone with no residents present.
Key Takeaways
A cooking oil warehouse in Karmalichak, Mahuli Road, Patna caught fire on Sunday night, 29 June .
25 fire tenders were deployed from stations across Patna to battle the blaze.
The warehouse stored Dalda, refined oil, and mustard oil in drums, accelerating the fire's spread.
Property losses are estimated to exceed ₹50 lakh .
A bread factory adjacent to the warehouse was saved; no casualties or injuries were reported.
A short circuit is suspected as the cause; a formal inquiry is pending.
A massive fire broke out at a cooking oil warehouse in Karmalichak on Mahuli Road, under the Didarganj police station limits in Patna, triggering one of the largest firefighting operations the district has seen in recent months, officials said on Monday, 29 June. The blaze, which ignited on Sunday night, caused property losses estimated to exceed ₹50 lakh, with no casualties reported.
How the Fire Spread
The fire spread with alarming speed, fuelled by large quantities of Dalda, refined oil, and mustard oil stored in drums inside the warehouse. The highly inflammable nature of these products engulfed the entire premises within a short span, making containment extremely difficult. The district administration responded swiftly, alerting all fire stations across Patna and deploying a total of 25 fire tenders to the site.
Firefighting Challenges
Ajay Kumar Sharma, an officer at the Patna City Fire Station, explained that oil fires present unique challenges. 'Extinguishing oil fires is particularly difficult because water alone is often ineffective. Therefore, firefighters deployed foam compounds alongside water to suppress the flames and prevent further spread,' he said. Teams worked through the night, combining special foam compounds with water to bring the blaze under control by morning.
Cause Under Investigation
Preliminary investigations suggest a short circuit may have triggered the fire. However, officials clarified that the exact cause would only be confirmed after the fire is fully extinguished and a detailed inquiry is conducted. The warehouse falls under the Didarganj police station jurisdiction, and a formal probe is expected to follow.
Damage and Wider Impact
The fire caused extensive structural damage to the warehouse, with losses reportedly exceeding ₹50 lakh. A bread factory located adjacent to the warehouse was successfully protected by firefighters, averting a potentially larger disaster. Since the area is primarily a warehousing zone, no workers or residents were present at the time, and no casualties or injuries have been reported. Oil flowing from the burning premises spread onto nearby roads and pathways, making them dangerously slippery and disrupting vehicular movement in the area. Firefighting operations continued until the early hours of Monday morning before the blaze was fully brought under control.
Point of View
No fire compartmentalisation. The fact that 25 tenders were needed to contain a single warehouse fire, and that oil spilled onto public roads disrupting traffic, points to both the scale of the hazard and the absence of basic containment design. The short-circuit hypothesis, if confirmed, would mark yet another preventable industrial fire in a state where electrical safety audits of commercial storage units remain inconsistently enforced.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Patna warehouse fire break out?
The fire broke out at a cooking oil warehouse in Karmalichak on Mahuli Road, under the Didarganj police station area of Patna. The blaze started on Sunday night and was brought under control by Monday morning.
What caused the Patna cooking oil warehouse fire?
Preliminary investigations suggest a short circuit may have triggered the fire. However, officials stated the exact cause will only be confirmed after the fire is fully extinguished and a formal inquiry is completed.
Were there any casualties in the Patna warehouse fire?
No casualties or injuries were reported. Since the area is primarily a warehousing zone, no workers or residents were present at the site when the fire broke out.
How much property damage did the Patna fire cause?
The fire caused property losses estimated to exceed ₹50 lakh. The entire warehouse was engulfed, though an adjacent bread factory was successfully protected by firefighters.
How did firefighters tackle the cooking oil warehouse blaze?
A total of 25 fire tenders were deployed from stations across Patna. Firefighters used special foam compounds alongside water to suppress the flames, as water alone is ineffective against oil fires, according to Patna City Fire Station officer Ajay Kumar Sharma.
