A fire in a restaurant in Pune's Wakad area claimed the life of a 20-year-old worker and left two others with minor injuries Sunday night.
It happened at New Delhi 6 Biryani House on Dange Chowk Road where a gas leak during the replacement of a commercial LPG cylinder is thought to have started the fire.
Shahzad Sheikh, who was working at the hotel when the fire broke out, was identified as the man who died. The flames spread rapidly after the gas leak, taking control of the restaurant and causing panic among employees and visitors in the restaurant, the preliminary information says.
Pimpri-Chinchwad Fire Brigade responded quickly after receiving the call. Firefighters arrived at the location in a matter of minutes and emergency response was quickly commenced. They immediately moved forward with rescue and firefighting operations.
It was their focus to prevent the fire from spreading because LPG cylinders were kept in the store to keep the place from going up in flames.
During the operation, fire personnel removed five to six commercial gas cylinders from the building, which greatly reduced the risk of a major explosion. The fire was brought under control within an hour and did not spread to the next buildings and businesses.
However, Shahzad Sheikh suffered fatal injuries in the incident and could not be saved. Two other people suffered minor injuries and were treated for their injuries and are now considered safe.
The fire began in an interior kitchen as a commercial gas cylinder was being changed. Investigators are seeking to know if proper safety precautions were in place during the cylinder replacement process and whether all mandatory fire safety measures are in place.
Police and fire department officials have launched an investigation. As part of the investigation, officials will look at the restaurant's fire safety equipment, LPG handling practices, preparedness of the emergency response system, and safety policies as per the law.
The incident has once more made people in restaurants and commercial kitchens and those who work with LPG cylinders to provide meals and food to people on a daily basis aware of the need to follow fire safety standards very closely.
Regular inspections, proper training, and the safe handling of commercial gas cylinders are key to avoiding such accidents, experts say.
The police have also promised to take appropriate action if negligence or breach of safety laws is found during the investigation. The findings of the investigation will determine the sequence of events and whether the establishment had complied with the fire safety regulations established in law.
The death of the young worker struck a chord with the locals and officials are working to raise the standard of accountability and promote fire safety awareness in commercial establishments.
