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Man killed, five suffer burns in a major fire accident
| The godown had about 60 barrels of kerosene, white petrol |
It took nearly three hours to bring the fire under control
Spark from the gas cylinder of the van may be the cause
Gutted: Policemen examining the car which was burnt in a fire accident at a godown at Sarakki Gate in Bangalore on Thursday.
BANGALORE: A man died and five, including four Fire Services personnel, suffered burns in a major fire accident at a godown at Sarakki Gate, near Banashankari Temple, in Kumaraswamy police station limits here on Thursday.
The storehouse, A.R. Enterprises, housed about 60 barrels of kerosene, white petrol and other solvents, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Alok Kumar. The flames were so fierce that a van parked in front of the godown was gutted as were the fronds of a coconut palm nearby.
It took nearly three hours for 10 fire tenders to bring the fire, which broke out at 5.15 p.m., under control.
Its source is yet to be established. While the Fire and Emergency Services Joint Director Chengappa said it probably started in the godown, the police suspected that a spark from the gas cylinder in the van could have led to the fire.
Casualties would have been higher, injuries more severe and the fire more uncontrollable if the cylinder of the van had exploded, said Deputy Inspector General, Fire and Emergency Services T. Suneel Kumar.
The body of the 30-year-old victim, as yet unidentified, has been shifted to the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) mortuary. Eyewitnesses told The Hindu that the victim had tried to escape from the godown but could not because the burning van blocked the narrow entrance. Pasha (40), an employee at the godown, suffered third degree burns. He is in Victoria Hospital. A resident of Kaverinagar at Banashankari 2nd Stage, his condition is said to be serious. Meanwhile, residents of a house adjacent to the godown had a narrow escape. On hearing the explosion, the occupants, who were in the middle of a meal, fled to safety. Fire and Emergency Services personnel faced a tough time controlling the conflagration as the godown, located on a Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board pipeline area, had no approach road. The constricted entrance meant that the rescuers could not enter the compound of the godown with their vehicle. They had to use long hoses and stand well away from the vast godown compound to fight the fire.
Fireman Chandru and driver Shivalingappa suffered severe burns on their forearms and faces. Both were arranging the hoses near the godown when they were hit by an explosion from within the burning building. Two other personnel, Nanjundaiah, district fire officer, and Nagaraju, fireman, suffered minor burns. All have been admitted to a hospital.
Incidentally, Chandru had been injured in a similar blaze on October 13 when for the first time in the city, 17 fire personnel suffered severe burns in a fire accident.
The Kumaraswamy police have registered a case. They are investigating whether the godown had stored inflammable material illegally. They are waiting the arrival of Aziz Pasha, the owner, who is on a Haj pilgrimage.
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