A fire broke out early Saturday morning at a branch of the State Bank of India located in Janghai Bazaar under the Saraimamera police station area. The incident occurred around 4:00 AM and was reportedly caused by a short circuit.
The fire caused significant damage inside the bank, burning a motorcycle, computer systems, furniture, and several important documents. Fortunately, a major disaster was avoided as the building owner, Dharmendra alias Kallu Jaiswal, woke up in time and raised the alarm.
Dharmendra lives with his family on the second floor of the building, while the bank branch operates on the ground floor. Around 5:00 AM, he woke up due to difficulty in breathing as smoke had filled the house. When he went downstairs, he saw flames coming out from inside the bank.
He immediately alerted nearby shopkeepers and locals, who tried to control the fire on their own. The police and fire brigade were informed, and both teams reached the spot by around 6:00 AM. Firefighters worked for nearly an hour before successfully bringing the fire under control.
According to the building owner, the branch manager, Jagdish Narayan Singh, was at home since the bank was closed on Saturday. Other bank staff reached the scene after being informed. The branch manager has also been notified, and only after his inspection will the exact extent of damage—especially to lockers and cash—be determined.
The police have registered the case and are currently investigating the incident.
