Over 150 firefighters battled the raging blaze at the cracker godown at Attibele for over 15 hours and recovered all the bodies that lay severely charred and some buried under the debris on Saturday.
The Fire and Emergency Services control room received a call about the fire at 3.30 p.m., without any information about the kind of shop. It was only after a fire tender rushed to the spot, delayed by heavy Saturday traffic on Hosur Road, that the personnel realised that it was a firecracker godown of over 6,000 sq. ft with over one tonne of firecrackers stored. Soon, 10 fire tenders and a rescue van rushed to the spot and joined firefighting and rescue operations.
“It was a very challenging operation as thick poisonous smoke of sulphur and phosphorus was bellowing out and the godown was unscientifically built with no good access. A liquor store stands right next to it, posing even more risk. But human efforts aided with technology helped us put out the fire,” said Kamal Pant, DGP, Fire and Emergency Services.
