The deceased were identified as Usha Poonamiya, who represented Ward 23 of the Khudala-Falna Municipality, and her husband, Prakash. Another person, Gautam Chand Poonamiya, suffered severe burn injuries and was referred to Jodhpur for advanced medical treatment.
The fire broke out around 11 p.m. near Swarn Mandir at Falna’s main intersection. According to local residents, a spark triggered the blaze, which spread rapidly because of the firecrackers stored inside the shop. The flames also engulfed adjoining grocery and battery shops, triggering panic in the area.
During the rescue operation, Usha Poonamiya’s body was recovered from the underground section of the shop. Her husband also lost his life in the incident.
Five fire tenders from Falna, Khudala, Bali and Sumerpur were deployed to control the blaze. The firefighting and rescue operation continued for nearly six hours, with the fire brought under control around 5 a.m.
Police and emergency teams also searched the premises for anyone who might have been trapped. Electricity supply to the area was disconnected as a precautionary measure to prevent further danger.
The bodies of the deceased have been kept at the mortuary of Falna Government Hospital, while the injured person was shifted to Jodhpur.
Several adjoining commercial establishments were damaged, with preliminary estimates indicating property losses worth lakhs of rupees.
Falna police have initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.
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