A tragic fire incident at a Border Security Force (BSF) camp along the India-Bangladesh border in North 24 Parganas claimed the life of a jawan on Thursday morning. The deceased has been identified as Jyotiram Singh, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of the 77th Battalion.
The incident occurred at the strategically significant BSF camp in the Bankra area of Hingalganj, located right along the international border. According to initial reports, the mishap took place between 9:30 am and 10:00 am when Singh was refuelling a speedboat using a petrol pump situated within the camp premises.
Eyewitness Abani Krishna Hawli recounted that a river flows adjacent to the camp and the jawan was preparing for routine morning patrol. While transferring fuel from the pump to the speedboat using a hosepipe, the pump suddenly caught fire and quickly escalated into a massive blaze.
Local residents and fellow BSF personnel rushed to the spot in an attempt to douse the flames. However, due to the presence of highly flammable materials inside the pump room, the fire intensified rapidly. Shortly thereafter, a loud explosion was heard. Singh was found in a critically burnt condition and was declared dead at the scene.
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Upon receiving the information, a fire engine from Lebukhali reached the spot and, along with personnel from Hingalganj Police Station, carried out a prolonged firefighting operation to bring the situation under control. Acting on instructions from the local administration, an official visited the site for an initial assessment. Preliminary findings suggest that a short circuit may have triggered the fire.
The body of the deceased jawan has been recovered jointly by the police and BSF and sent to Basirhat District Hospital for post-mortem examination. As of now, neither senior BSF officials nor administrative authorities have issued an official statement on the exact cause of the incident.
The BSF has initiated an internal inquiry into the matter. The incident, occurring in a highly sensitive border area, has raised concerns over safety protocols and infrastructure at such critical installations. Authorities are continuing their inspection while closely monitoring the situation.
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