Kolkata, April 16 -- A Border Security Force (BSF) officer was charred to death after a fire broke out at the Border Outpost (BOP) Bankura of the 77 Battalion in Hingalganj on Thursday morning.
The deceased, identified as Jagi Ram from Bhiwani in Haryana, was an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI). He reportedly became trapped inside and died. He had joined the force in 1990.
According to sources, the fire broke out around 8:36 am at a petrol pump inside the BOP while Ram was reportedly refuelling a speedboat used for patrolling along the river belt.
The flames quickly spread to the fuel storage area, triggering a series of explosions. BSF personnel, along with local residents, initially tried to douse the fire but were unsuccessful. Fire brigade teams reached the spot shortly afterwards.
After nearly two hours, the fire was brought under control. Firefighters recovered Ram in an unconscious state with severe burns and rushed him to Basirhat Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
It is suspected that a short circuit during refuelling may have triggered the fire. Ram is believed to have been trapped inside the fuel dump after the blaze
broke out.
It has been stated that the battalion under which the BOP functions is meant solely for border security and was not deployed for election duty. Both the police and the BSF have initiated an inquiry to ascertain the exact cause
of the incident.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.