20 vehicles parked in basement gutted in major blaze

Rajkot: At least 20 two-wheelers parked in the basement of a high-rise residential tower on the Kankot-Mavdi Main Road were gutted in a major fire, suspected to have been triggered during charging of an e-vehicle.While there were no casualties or injuries to anyone, fire and police personnel safely evacuated three ailing and specially-abled residents who were trapped inside their flats. They were brought down using stretchers from the eighth and ninth floors and shifted to their relatives' homes through the 108 ambulance service.
Rajkot City Taluka Police station, inspector D M Haripara told TOI that reports have been sought from PGVCL and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to ascertain the exact cause of the fire. "Prima facie, the blaze is suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit, possibly during the charging of an electric vehicle parked in the area. However, other causes of short circuit are also being examined," he said.Fire officer Jaypalsinh Zala said that the Mavdi Fire Station received the call around 12:40 am. "Our team reached the spot within four to five minutes and began dousing operations immediately. The fire was brought under control within 25 to 30 minutes," he said.The fire department also conducted checks on the first floor to ensure that no residents were trapped.Authorities are also verifying the functionality of the building's installed fire safety system as part of the ongoing investigation.Upon receiving information about the blaze, teams from the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) fire department, 108 emergency service and the city taluka police rushed to the spot. As a precautionary measure, the building's power supply was shut down.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !