Image showing fire. For representational purposes.
Credit: Pixabay Photo
Mumbai: In a tragic incident, at least four persons were charred to death and six others injured after a Tempo Traveller caught fire in the Hinjewadi area of Pimpri-Chinchwad area of Pune on Wednesday morning.
A team of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) doused the fire.
The victims were from the Vyoma Graphics, where they were going for work in the small vehicle.
The PCMC and Pimpri-Chinchwad police shifted the victims to the Ruby Hall Clinic, Hinjewadi, where the situation of two persons is said to be critical. Those who sustained burn injuries, have been admitted to hospitals in Pune.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Vishal Gaikwad, who oversees the Pimpri-Chinchwad area said that around 7:30 am, the minibus caught fire.
“When the police reached the location, four people had died. Six people were shifted to a hospital for treatment,” said Gaikwad.
Dr Sudheer Rai, COO, Ruby Hall Clinic, Hinjewadi said, “Six patients were brought to Ruby Hall Clinic Hinjewadi for emergency medical care. Among them, two individuals have sustained over 40 per cent burns and are in critical condition, one has suffered 20 per cent burns, and another with 5 per cent burns remains unconscious. One patient with minor burns is stable.”
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by a short circuit in the minibus. The incident has raised concerns about vehicle safety and the need for regular maintenance checks.
A total of 15 people, including the bus driver and a woman were one board the 17-seater bus.
“The vehicle was ferrying employees of Vyoma Graphics from Warje to Hinjewadi at the time. Five people have been injured and admitted to hospital. We are investigating the cause of fire,” said Hinjewadi police station’s Senior Inspector Kanhaiya Thorat.
“The fire originated near the driver’s cabin. Some of the employees couldn’t come out from the front door while another door on the rear side didn’t open, resulting in the deaths,” police officials said.
Even as the driver jumped, the vehicle hit a divider.