Four persons sustained injuries in a fire, which broke out near Spandan circle in Vadodara’s Manjalpur on Wednesday evening. The fire, which completely gutted five shops and two residential apartments on the first floor, rapidly spread to the adjoining structures.
The blaze also engulfed three two-wheelers, which were parked in the area.
Police said that a leakage in a Vadodara Gas Limited (VGL) pipeline during some drilling work, undertaken by Airtel for laying fibre cables, led to the blaze.
Two persons from the private mobile network company and two others from a juice shop in the vicinity were injured in the fire.
Fire tenders from five fire stations of Dandiya Bazar, GIDC, Gajrawadi, and Panigate were rushed to the spot. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after nearly a half-an-hour operation.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, F Division, Pranav Kataria said, “As per primary information, Airtel employees were laying a fibre cable network. They had the required permissions for the work, even from the fire department. But while they were engaged in a horizontal drilling, they probably damaged the VGL gas pipeline that runs parallel. An investigation has been initiated to ascertain if anyone’s negligence caused the fire.”
Police said that the fire rapidly spread inside the gas pipeline.
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Kataria said that VGL officials have begun examining the spot and will submit a report to the police. “VGL is first examining the spot to identify the point of origin. We have taken cognisance and noted a case to begin investigation. We will also record the statements of the two employees of the fibre cable company, who were injured in the fire. One of the two employees has sustained 30% burns. If any negligence is found in the case, an FIR will be lodged accordingly.”
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