Farmer held for stubble burning that sparked Bhiwapur hamlet fire

Nagpur: A day after massive fire destroyed over 50 houses and killed several livestock in Dhamangaon village in Bhiwapur tehsil, around 70km from Nagpur, a farmer was arrested on Sunday for burning stubble, which fanned by gusty winds triggered a blaze that gutted nearly half the village.Bhiwapur police in Nagpur Rural said the farmer Kailash Pandurang Dhakulkar, 35, had on Saturday set fire to stubble and agricultural residue on his field to prepare it for tilling. He reportedly left for weekly market without ensuring the fire was fully extinguished.As stormy winds intensified later in the evening, flying embers were carried onto the rooftops and terraces of the densely packed hutments, police said. Once the first hutment caught fire, flames rapidly spread to adjoining homes, leaving residents little time to react.Panic gripped the village as thick smoke engulfed the area. Eyewitnesses said residents rushed to salvage belongings, but the fierce winds made firefighting efforts nearly impossible. Several cows and goats trapped in sheds died in the blaze. Two elderly residents sustained burns, but are out of danger. Vehicles and household goods were also destroyed.Home to nearly 800 residents, Dhamangaon village now presents a grim picture, with long stretches of charred mud and tiled houses resembling a ghost settlement.Fire tenders from Bhiwapur, Umred, Nagpur city and neighbouring areas managed to bring the blaze under control late at night.A case has been registered against Dhakulkar under Section 326(G) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal negligence, an offence punishable with rigorous imprisonment of up to 10 years.Superintendent of police (Nagpur Rural) Harssh A Poddar said police personnel displayed exceptional courage during rescue operations. "Our teams entered burning houses to save elderly residents and children," he said.According to police, Dhakulkar's act of leaving the fire unattended despite stormy conditions forecast amounts to criminal negligence. Officials explained that Section 326(G) of the BNS applies even in the absence of malicious intent when fire-related acts foreseeably endanger human dwellings, underscoring the law's emphasis on community safety in fire-prone rural areas.Police and revenue officials have deployed four teams to carry out panchnamas and assess losses. Affected families have been shifted to a local school and gram panchayat building, while some have taken shelter with relatives. The panchayat is providing food and essential supplies. Rehabilitation and compensation will follow a detailed damage survey by disaster management teams.