300 cars gutted as fire breaks out at parking lot near Aero India venue

Tribune News Service

Bengaluru, February 23

A major fire at the parking lot near the Yelahanka air base, where the Aero India show is under way, gutted about 300 cars on Saturday, the police said.

No casualties were reported, they said.

“The blaze is likely to have been caused due to dry grass catching fire aided by high velocity winds,” Director General of Police for Fire and Emergency Services M.N. Reddi told IANS.

The fire, which began at around 12 noon, quickly burnt down the vehicles parked by visitors and public attending the show at the Indian Air Force base in the northern outskirts of the city.

Thick black smoke was billowing in the sky soon after the air display of aircraft which began at 10 a.m. came to end.

The fire personnel controlled the blaze by creating a gap by removing adjacent cars, Reddi said.

“In all, 300 cars were burnt. Fire is fully extinguished now,” Reddi said in a tweet later.

The exact reason for the fire, however, could not be ascertained from the officials so far.

Ten 10 fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the fire.

The aerial display of aircraft in the afternoon, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. continued according to schedule.

Ministry of Defence has asked the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to open a special insurance claim cell to facilitate speedy claims for people affected in the fire. —  with IANS inputs

#AeroShowOpenParkingAreaFire
In all, 300 cars burnt in the fire incident. Fire fully extinguished now. 10 Fire Force and 5 other fire engines fought the fire under the leadership of Chief Fire Officer, West.

— M.N.Reddi, IPS (@DGP_FIRE) February 23, 2019