3 workers die as fire breaks out at godown in Pune’s Wagholi
Three workers from West Bengal were killed in a fire that broke out at a decoration material godown in Pune, India. The fire is thought to have been caused by LPG cylinders stored in the godown, which subsequently exploded. Firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to a neighbouring godown that contained around 400 LPG cylinders.
Three workers were killed in a massive fire that broke out at a decoration material godown in the Wagholi area in Pune late Firday night, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Kamal Bar 24, Bijan Milan Patra 24 and Vishwajit Sen, 27. They all hail from Midnapur district of West Bengal, said police officials.
According to officials, the Pune Fire Brigade received a call around 11.43 pm about the blaze at the Ubale Nagar godown of Shubh Sajavat, a firm that provides material for setting up pandals for various functions.The material caught fire which subsequently spread when several LPG cylinders stored in the godown exploded.
The fire brigade said four LPG cylinders exploded during the incident. According to officials, next to the site, there was another godown that had a stock of about 400 LPG cylinders. The firefighters ensured that the fire did not spread to the second godown, averting a major tragedy.
Immediately after the call, a team of nine fire brigade vehicles and 45 firemen from the Pune Municipal Corporation and four vehicles from the Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA) were promptly dispatched to the scene and were able to bring the fire under control.
According to police officials, the workers were having a birthday celebration in the godown. The fire might have broken out while they were having dinner as food was found in utensils.
Gajanan Pawar, senior police inspector at Lonikand police station said, “There were 14-15 workers who gathered at the godown for dinner. As the fire broke out and began to spread, the workers rushed out to save themselves, however, three of them were stuck inside and died. One body was found in the water tank. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and the procedure of recording statements of the owner of Shubh Sajawat, Ashish Agarwal is underway.”
“Fortunately, the quick actions of the fire brigade officials prevented a major incident as there was another godown nearby with at least 400 LPG cylinders. Had the fire spread in neighbouring premises there, it could have caused significant damage,” said a fire brigade official.
The official said, adding that they shifted 400 gas cylinders from a godown in the vicinity to safety.
Meanwhile, after the blaze was extinguished, firefighters carried out cooling operations at the godown for a few hours.
The police officials have launched a probe to determine the cause of the fire and ascertain whether the godown had the necessary fire safety measures.
