Fire breaks out in Wagholi, three dead. Major disaster averted as fire fighters control blaze before it spreads to nearby warehouse containing 400 LPG cylinders. At least three people died in a massive fire that broke out at a godown in Kavde Basti, Ubale Nagar, Wagholi around 11.30 pm on Friday. The godown contained materials for the construction of the ‘Shubh Dekar’ mandap and was stocked with wedding decorations, lighting, wires, cushions, carpets, and painting materials, which fueled the flames. The blaze soon intensified and quickly spread to nearby godowns after four gas cylinders stored in the godown exploded. Fortunately, a major disaster was averted as the fire was brought under control before it could spread out to another godown containing 400 gas cylinders. According to the fire officials, they received a distress call reporting a blaze at the godown of Shubh Sajavat. “Upon receiving the call, the fire brigade and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) quickly dispatched teams to the site. The exact cause of the fire is still unknown. The police have sent the bodies to Sassoon hospital for post-mortem examination, ” a fire official told Mirror. Ramesh Gangad, additional divisional fire officer, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), told Mirror, “As soon as the fire was reported, five fire engines of PMC and four vehicles of PMRDA reached the spot. We also arranged some private water tankers to douse the fire quickly.” The storage facility that has been gutted in the blaze The fire was brought under control with the efforts of the firefighters but unfortunately, three workers lost their lives, said Gangad, adding, “Police are yet to ascertain their identities.” A local resident, Suresh Wandhekar, said, “The exact cause of the fire is still unknown. The deceased were all from Odisha, but identifying them is a tough task since they did not have their identity cards such as Aadhaar or PAN cards.” “Adjacent to the spot, there was a warehouse containing 400 LPG cylinders, and at a distance of 150 feet, there was a Bharat Gas godown. Fortunately, the firefighters brought the blaze under control just in time otherwise it could have been a major disaster, ” added Wandhekar. According to police, the fire might have been caused due to a short circuit and intensified after the LPG cylinders’ blast. “Bodies of the deceased have been sent to postmortem. We are investigating the cause of the fire, ” the police said.