Midnight fire in Bengaluru’s Nagarathpet claims two lives, family feared trapped

A devastating fire ripped through a house in Bengaluru’s Nagarathpet at around 3 AM, killing two men and leaving fears that family may have also perished in the flames.

Bengaluru woke up to grim news from Nagarathpet as a massive fire engulfed a four-storey building in the early hours of Saturday. The blaze, which broke out around 3 AM, claimed the lives of 40-year-old Madan Singh and Suresh. Madan’s wife and his children, aged eight and five, are feared to have been trapped inside the inferno.

Also Read:DULT flags risks in Bengaluru Tunnel Road: Metro safety and traffic concerns

The building, housing the godown on its lower floors and the family’s residence on the third, turned into a death trap within minutes. Witnesses said the flames spread rapidly through the stockpiled plastic, making escape nearly impossible.

Firefighters rushed six fire tenders to the spot and battled for hours to bring the blaze under control. While they managed to douse the flames, the aftermath revealed a heart-wrenching scene of loss. Officials suspect a short circuit triggered the fire, though an investigation is underway.

Also Read:Bengaluru traffic so bad, even DK Shivakumar’s kids fight with him!

Local resident Kalaaram Choudhary, who witnessed the tragedy, shared, “Madan and Suresh were inside when the fire broke out. They were running businesses from here, but the narrow lanes and lack of proper arrangements made rescue difficult. Fire trucks struggled to reach the spot on time.”

Choudhary added that though Nagarathpet’s tightly packed shops and lanes cannot be easily widened, safety protocols must be enforced. “We cannot change the structure of these roads, but strict safety measures are a must to prevent such disasters in the future,” he said.

Also Read:Koramangala’s startup streets, broken roads: Bengaluru residents vent anger over pothole chaos

The incident has highlighted the fragile state of Bengaluru’s old market zones, where congestion, inadequate fire access, and lack of safety compliance leave residents and workers vulnerable.

Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh visited the site and gave a statement on the ongoing rescue efforts. He said:

“Around 2:30 am, police received information about the fire. So far, two male bodies have been recovered, while three more people are feared missing. Their search is underway. The third-floor door is difficult to access because of heavy smoke and material blockage, but efforts are ongoing to clear it. Fire services, FSL teams, and our police personnel are all working together. The fire began at the ground-floor godown and spread upwards. Most residents managed to escape, but one family is believed to be trapped. Two bodies have been brought out, and more casualties are suspected. Operations are continuing.”

Also Read:Hebbal Land Row: Bengaluru MPs slam move to divert metro hub plot to private builders