A sudden fire broke out in the workshop behind the showroom of Pioneer Toyota Agency in Chandigarh’s Industrial Area Phase-1 at around 7pm on Sunday evening. Both the showroom and workshop were closed at the time of the accident. Within no time the fire took a severe form and about 10 vehicles were burnt to ashes. The station in-charge, who was patrolling the area, saw smoke rising from the workshop and informed the fire department and police control room.
After receiving the information, six fire brigade vehicles reached the spot but the gate of the showroom was locked. In such a situation, the police broke the lock of the gate and allowed the fire engines inside. On the other hand, after receiving the information, the showroom manager and staff reached the spot and started searching for the keys to take out the vehicles parked inside the showroom and workshop and in the parking area. After getting the keys, he quickly took out the new cars parked in the showroom and dozens of old cars parked in the workshop.
During this period there was a stampede situation. The showroom staff was busy taking out the goods lying in the workshop till night. The fire department vehicles brought the fire under control after one and a half hours of hard work.
SHO of Industrial Area police station Jaspal Singh Bhullar said that at 6:30 pm on Sunday evening, he was sitting outside the beatbox after patrolling the area.Meanwhile, he saw black smoke rising into the sky from Centra Mall. Seeing this they immediately went in that direction. Reaching the spot, we saw that smoke was coming out from the workshop area located behind the showroom of Pioneer Toyota. During this time, sounds of explosions were also coming from the workshop. He informed the fire department and police control room at 7:03 p.m. Since it was Sunday, the entire staff of the company closed the showroom at 5-6 p.m. and went home.
According to the information, accidental or damaged vehicles of customers are kept in the workshop for repair. It was reported that the flames had reached the service area and the first floor. Due to the promptness of the police and fire department, the fire was brought under control by completely evacuating the workshop. The cause of the fire has not been known yet.
Police said that the fire became more serious when the flames reached the tanks of the burning vehicles. Due to the fire in the vehicle’s tank, there were three loud explosions one after the other, due to which panic spread in the area. During this time, the owners of nearby showrooms and factories were also frightened. About a dozen drums filled with diesel and oil were kept in the service area, which were taken out in time. If the flames had reached these drums, a major accident could have occurred
