Nine charred to death as major fire breaks out at Ahmedabad godown

AHMEDABAD: At least nine persons were charred to death and three suffered severe burns after a major fire broke out at a clothes' godown in the Ganeshnagar locality near Pirana dumping yard in the city on Wednesday.

An officer of Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) said that the fire broke out in a godown in an industrial unit near Torrent power station in Ganeshnagar. The fire was so intense that the victims could not even escape from the godown.

Around 10 persons were working in the unit when the incident took place, most probably due to electricity short circuit or by spark of a bidi or cigarette, said an AFES officer.

Locals called up fire brigade and police control after which around 24 fire tenders of AFES and 50 fire personnel and officers rushed to the spot. The operation to douse the fire was continued and the flames were still seen in the godown.

A local, Nizamuddin Ansari said that one person lost his right leg and he along with two others were taken to hospital in 108 ambulance. Ansari alleged that the relatives of victims were not told about the hospital where the victims and deceased were taken.

AFES officers said that number of deceased can increased.