Bhopal: A major fire erupted on Sunday in the densely packed timber stockyard near Pul Patra (Bridge) sawmill area, rapidly engulfing thousands of cubic feet of seasoned wood and threatening the adjacent residential area.

The blaze, of which the origin remains unknown, has mobilised an unprecedented 25 fire tenders in a desperate bid to contain the inferno before it spirals into a larger urban disaster.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing towering flames leap 50-60 feet into the night sky within minutes of the first spark, accompanied by dense black smoke billowing across the skyline.

“It started with a crackling sound near the centre of the yard, then exploded. Within seconds, the entire stock was alight,” recounted a local shopkeeper whose premises lie barely 200 meters away.

Fire departme

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