Blaze at police impound yard in Bengaluru's Srirampura, 150 vehicles gutted; no casualties

Dry grass across the facility may have ignited the flames, police suspect.

Bengaluru: A massive fire broke out at an open parking facility in central Bengaluru’s Srirampuram on Wednesday, reducing at least 150 seized vehicles to ashes.

No casualties were reported, the police said.

The facility, spread across two acres and known as Jakkarayanakere, is used by the Bengaluru city police to park vehicles seized in criminal cases.

According to officials, the fire erupted around 10.55 am in the middle of the facility and spread rapidly.

Fire department sources told DH that five firefighting units from Yeshwantpur, Dobbspet, Rajajinagar, and High Grounds were deployed to contain the blaze.

The fire gutted 130 two-wheelers, 10 autorickshaws, and 10 cars before being doused after a two-hour-long operation, officials said.

The Srirampuram police have registered a fire accident case and launched an investigation. “The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Initial findings suggest that dry grass across the facility may have ignited the flames,” an investigator said.

A facility in neglect

Since 2016, over 10,000 vehicles have been parked at Jakkarayanakere, where all police stations in Bengaluru send seized vehicles for storage.

Once a lake over a century ago, the site is now overgrown with dry grass, making it highly vulnerable to fires, fire department sources noted.

Officials pointed out that the facility is poorly maintained despite being guarded by security personnel, including police constables.

A police source said a vigilant security guard noticed thick smoke and promptly alerted the fire department, preventing the flames from spreading further and turning into a major fire disaster like in the recent past.

“Had it not been for the timely alert, the fire would have escalated rapidly, with the dry grass acting as a fuel source,” the source added.

Many two-wheelers still had fuel in their tanks, which may have accelerated the spread of the fire, officials said.

Fire in 1981 at the same site

The incident brings back memories of one of Karnataka’s worst fire tragedies, which occurred at the same site over four decades ago.

On February 9, 1981, a massive fire swept through Venus Circus, which had been set up at Jakkarayanakere, killing 92 people and injuring over 300. More than 20 schoolchildren were among the deceased.