Bengaluru: An unidentified man, aged about 35, was burnt alive and property worth lakhs were destroyed when a massive fire broke out at a commercial building on BVK Iyengar Road in Huriopet in Chikpet police station limits early Friday.
The fire gutted an electrical shop Maya Electrical located on the ground floor and also the three upper floors, which were being used to store electrical goods.
The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained, but eyewitnesses claimed they heard loud explosions at around 4.15 am from the electrical shop and the first floor of the building where cables, batteries, bulbs, switches, fuses and other electrical goods were stored.
“The explosion was such that the ground and the neighbouring buildings shook as if it was an earthquake,” said Kishan K, an employee of a private company who had just returned from his office to his house in Huriopet at 3.30 am after his night shift.
“I thought it was an earthquake and immediately evacuated my parents from the building and went on to the terrace to see what was happening,” Kishan said who spotted the fire at the building nearby and alerted the fire department and the police.
Kishan’s mother even saw an injured man running from the building on the BVK Iyengar road towards the main road. The explosion was so intense that metal shutters were ripped apart and the objects were found at a distance of 200 metres and had even damaged neighbouring buildings, Kishan added.
Around 10 fire-tenders, including water-boozers, were pressed into service to fight the fire. They reached the spot within 20 minutes as it was early morning and the roads were free of traffic. The fire officials combed the building and found a body charred beyond recognition on the third floor of the building. It is yet to be identified.
“As there were several newcomers employed by the owner, the identity of the deceased is yet to be ascertained,” said a police officer. The body was shifted to Victoria Hospital’s morgue.
“The cause of the explosion and the fire is yet to be ascertained. Forensic Science Laboratory experts have collected samples from the spot and suspect the blasts could have either caused by blast devices or batteries. We have taken up a case of fire mischief and further investigations are underway,” said a senior police officer.
