Twin fire mishaps in Vizag city, no casualities, significant property damage

A partially burnt car being removed from inside a building that caught fire in Maddilapalem Visakhapatnam on Thursday..
| Photo Credit:
V. RAJU

A fire broke out at two different places in Visakhapatnam city on Thursday. No casualties were reported, but initial reports suggest that the property damage was around ₹50 lakh.

In the first incident, a fire broke out at a car showroom in the G+4 commercial building adjacent to Krishna College in Maddilapalem on Thursday. “None of the 15 people evacuated were injured, but four cars were gutted in the blaze and 16 others were partially gutted,” said fire department officials. The fire broke out possibly due to an electrical fault on the ground floor of the building, but it has not been confirmed so far, and is under investigation.

A total of 35 firefighters with seven fire engines were deployed to douse the flames. Fire officials said that the building where the accident occurred 10 people were trapped in the gym and were brought out by breaking the windows with gym equipment.

Speaking to The Hindu, Visakhapatnam District Fire Officer S. Renukaiah said that he received a phone call from an unknown person at 7.10 am on Thursday (November 20) informing him that a fire had broken out in the commercial building where he was going regularly to the gym. Immediately, fire personnel rushed to the spot. The accident is believed to have took place at around 6 am.

“We formed two teams. One team was sent to bring out those trapped inside the building and the other team was tasked with dousing the fire. There was no loss of life or burns to the citizens, but there was property damage. The presence of waste materials used for car repairs may have contributed to the spread of the fire, but we are yet to ascertain the exact cause,” Mr. Renukaiah said.

On the other hand, a fire broke out at a scrap shop in Devimetta, Kommadi, Madhurawada. The fire spread further as the plastic items caught fire. Smoke billowed throughout the area. EPDCL officials inspected the buildings where the accident took place and said that the fire occurred due to a short circuit.