A devastating fire broke out at an air-conditioner service centre in Ghaziabad's Patel Nagar area during the early hours of Saturday, claiming the life of a 70-year-old worker and causing an estimated loss of nearly Rs 2.5 crore. The incident occurred at a three-storey AC service facility located inside a densely populated residential area in the tyre market of Udal Nagar.
Fire Breaks Out in the Early Hours
According to police, the fire started around 2:15 am. The flames reached AC units stored on the ground floor, triggering several explosions that caused the fire to spread rapidly and engulf the entire building. A police officer stated that a short circuit is believed to have ignited the blaze, but the exact cause has not yet been confirmed.
At the time of the incident, at least 11 workers were sleeping inside the service centre. As the fire intensified, the workers attempted to escape but found the main gate locked from outside. Police discovered that an employee named Ajay had locked the gate before going to sleep on the terrace. When the fire broke out, he was unable to come downstairs because smoke had blocked the stairway.
Trapped Workers Break Lock to Escape
The trapped workers used hammers to break the lock and managed to escape before raising an alarm. During the chaos, Triloki Nath, a resident of Ayodhya district who had been working at the centre for nearly nine years, reportedly went back inside the building to retrieve his belongings. Witnesses said his co-workers repeatedly urged him not to go in, but he did not listen. The elderly worker, who reportedly had difficulty hearing and seeing, could not make it out safely. He is believed to have collapsed near the staircase after inhaling toxic smoke.
Firefighting Operation and Evacuation
The fire department launched a large-scale operation to control the blaze. As the fire spread, additional fire tenders and water tankers were called in from Vaishali, Sahibabad, and Modinagar. After nearly two hours, the fire was doused. Officials said the service centre had contracts with several major air-conditioner brands, including Voltas, Daikin, Mitsubishi, and Blue Star. Hundreds of AC units, compressors, and gas cylinders were stored inside the building. The compressor and cylinder blasts released toxic fumes into the air, forcing the evacuation of nearby homes.
Massive Property Damage
Two cars, including a Brezza and an Eeco, along with 13 motorcycles parked inside the premises, were destroyed in the fire. Thousands of AC parts, electronic equipment, furniture, and household items stored inside were also reduced to ashes. The service centre owner, Omkar Singh, stated that the establishment was not insured and estimated the total loss to be around Rs 2.5 crore. Fire department officials noted that despite the presence of highly inflammable materials, no fire safety arrangements were found in the building.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire and examining possible safety violations. The tragic incident highlights the lack of fire safety measures in commercial establishments and the risks faced by workers in such environments.
