A massive fire broke out at a tractor showroom in the Shivni area along Murtijapur Road in Akola on Sunday, causing panic in the vicinity as oil drums exploded. Four firemen sustained burn injuries while battling the flames.
Fire Details and Response
The fire erupted in the basement of the three-storey Shriram Tower, located barely 50 feet from a petrol pump. Due to the presence of oil and scrap material, the flames spread rapidly. As smoke billowed and explosions occurred one after another, authorities swiftly shut down the petrol pump to avert a disaster.
Fire tenders from both the MIDC fire station and Akola Municipal Corporation (AMC) managed to bring the blaze under control after nearly three hours of intense firefighting. Multiple water rounds were carried out, and private hydrants were also used to contain the fire.
Injured Firefighters
Two of the injured firemen, Mangesh Bijwar and Abhay Jadhav, are from the MIDC fire station, while the other two, Prem Tayade and Vijay Sonone, are from the AMC fire brigade. Despite limited resources, these personnel risked their lives to control the blaze. According to chief fire officer Manish Kathale, the injured firemen have been admitted to a private hospital.
Property Damage and Losses
The showroom, owned by Naresh Agrawal and rented out to Ganesh Tayade, housed around 12 tractors, all of which were safely moved out in time. However, spare parts and furniture inside the showroom were extensively damaged. According to Tayade, losses are estimated at around 12 to 15 lakh rupees.
Cause of Fire
Information suggests that around 40 to 50 drums were stored in the basement, some containing oil. Several of these drums exploded during the fire. A preliminary suspicion is that burning garbage in an adjacent plot may have triggered the blaze, as sparks entered the basement through a window.
