Lucknow: Panic gripped residents and shopkeepers of a multi-storey building on Kursi Road when a fire broke out in an electric vehicle showroom located on the ground floor of the building. The building also houses a branch of a government bank on the upper ground floor, while residential apartments occupy the floors above.
Incident Details
The incident came to light when a shopkeeper noticed smoke billowing from the premises at around 1:22 am and immediately alerted the authorities. A firefighting team from the Indiranagar Fire Station rushed to the spot within minutes.
Challenges Faced by Firefighters
However, the team encountered severe challenges as dense smoke engulfed the basement area, reducing visibility and raising fears of the fire spreading to upper floors. Using hose reels, firefighters launched an aggressive operation to douse the flames, while forced ventilation was carried out by breaking open doors to release the suffocating smoke. After nearly an hour-long effort, the fire was brought under control.
Damage Assessment
Nine electric scooters were completely gutted in the blaze. However, the timely intervention of the fire department helped salvage 14 scooters and one motorcycle, preventing further losses, said CFO, Lucknow, Ankush Mittal. Firemen said that prima facie it appeared that a short circuit inside the showroom led to the fire.
Safety Measures
Residents were safely evacuated as a precaution, and no injuries or casualties were reported. The quick response of the fire department ensured that the fire did not spread to the bank branch or residential areas above.
This incident highlights the importance of fire safety measures in commercial establishments, especially those dealing with electric vehicles and batteries. Authorities are likely to conduct a thorough investigation to prevent such incidents in the future.
