Fire destroys 14 cars in godown

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24

A major fire broke out in a scrap market and an adjoining godown of Toyota in Makhan Majra late last night.

As many as 14 new cars, including a Fortuner and an Innova, worth about Rs 3 crore, were destroyed in the fire. The loss in the scrap market is yet to be ascertained, said fire officials.

The Fire Department got information about the fire at 11.30 pm. The fire broke out in the scrap market and later engulfed the vehicle godown. One by one, 14 cars parked there were gutted.

When the fire broke out, the staff were sleeping outside the premises and escaped unhurt. The Fire Department had to press over 10 vehicles into service.

“We are still at the spot dousing the fire. A fire at a scrap market is tough to battle as material kept there keeps burning,” said fire official Gulshan Kumar, who led the operation.

Airport cargo area catches fire 

Mohali: Panic gripped the Chandigarh international airport here on Monday evening when fire engine sirens were sounded as a fire broke out in the cargo area. Officials of the Fire Department said the fire broke out in the cargo area where waste papers were stored around 4.30 pm. Two fire engines were pressed into service from the Air Force Station and the Mohali Fire Station. Within minutes, the fire spread to the jungle area along the waste paper dump and it took about an hour for the fire engine to douse the flames. No loss of life or injury was reported in the incident.