Utility blamed for wada fire

Updated on: 20 January,2011 07:55 AM IST |
Salil Urunkar |

Firefighters, villagers rescue people trapped in the tradion wooden house

Firefighters, villagers rescue people trapped in the tradion wooden house

The alleged negligence of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) officials ufffd who had reportedly left live wires open while disconnecting power supply to an old house in city ufffd caused a fire in the wada this afternoon.

Swift action of local residents and firefighters helped tame the blaze. Eight fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the fire that continued for around two hours.

Explosion of two LPG cylinders in the house stoked the fire, which could have proved disastrous if the firefighters would not have removed remaining eight cylinders in time.

All the 20 people of five families, including a special child, Pinky Garud (17), trapped in the chawl-like house were rescued. No injuries have been reported in the incident.

Moreshwar Shedge, anr activist who was involved in the rescue operation, said: "The electricity company officials had disconnected the power supply to the wada on Tuesday, but they had done it carelessly. Live wires were kept open which led to a short circuit and to a major fire that gripped the wada."

Local residents alleged the blaze was triggered by a short-circuit, but MSEDCL officials outrightly rejected their claim. MSEDCL executive engineer Mukund Dusani said: "The fire broke out because of gas cylinder explosion ufffd and not because of our negligence."