Fire breaks out at Gomathi Electronics showroom, Shalibanda Clock Tower; five injured
The fire broke out when the staff were closing the store.
By - Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: Five employees were injured when a major fire broke out at Gomathi Electronics' showroom near the Shalibanda Clock Tower late Monday night.
The fire caused heavy damage to property and vehicles in the vicinity. The fire broke out when the staff were closing the store.
Series of explosions creates panic
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as loud explosions echoed through the densely populated area. The fire triggered successive blasts from air-conditioners, refrigerators, and other electrical appliances stored inside the showroom.
The detonations were so powerful that the store’s metal shutter was blown nearly 100 metres away, shocking pedestrians and motorists passing by. Residents initially mistook the blasts for a bomb explosion due to the intensity of the sound.
CNG car blast intensifies fire
A CNG-powered car parked beside the store caught fire, and its cylinder exploded, further fueling the flames. A two-wheeler parked nearby was also reduced to ashes. The blaze quickly spread, threatening neighboring commercial units and residential buildings.
Firefighters deploy five engines
Fire services rushed to the scene with five fire engines and worked for nearly two hours to bring the flames under control. Thick smoke and repeated explosions made the firefighting operation challenging.
Police from the Moghalpura Police Station cordoned off the area, stopped traffic movement, and evacuated nearby occupants as a precaution.
Clock tower freezes at moment of disaster
In a striking detail, the clock on the nearby Shalibanda Clock Tower reportedly stopped at 10:28 pm, the exact time when the explosion occurred.
Injured shifted to Osmania Hospital
Five staff members who were inside the showroom at the time suffered severe burns and injuries. All were immediately shifted to Osmania General Hospital for treatment.
Investigation continues; Loss yet to be assessed
South Zone DCP Khare Kiran Prabhakar visited the site and reviewed the situation. The police have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
Shop owners said it was too early to estimate the extent of the loss, but preliminary visual inspection indicates major damage.
