What Happened in the Bengaluru Fire Tragedy?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two individuals confirmed dead in Bengaluru fire.
- Three more individuals feared trapped.
- Rescue operations ongoing with significant challenges.
- Initial investigations suggest fire started in a plastic godown.
- Community response is critical in times of crisis.
Bengaluru, Aug 16 (NationPress) In a tragic incident, two individuals lost their lives in a fire that erupted in Nagarthpet, close to the bustling K.R. Market on Saturday.
Rescue teams from the Fire and Emergency Services have successfully retrieved two bodies from the scene, while efforts continue to locate a woman and her two children believed to be trapped in a fourth-floor residence of the building.
The deceased have been identified as Suresh and Madan Singh, aged 38.
Madan's family resided on the fourth floor of the commercial structure.
Search operations are ongoing for Madan's wife, Sangeetha, aged 33, along with their children, Mitesh, aged 8, and Vihaan, aged 5.
According to police sources, the likelihood of their survival appears slim.
Officials noted that the presence of plastic materials stored in the godowns that ignited is significantly complicating the rescue efforts.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh visited the site to assess the situation.
He informed the media that the authorities were alerted about the fire at 3 a.m.
Police and Fire and Emergency Services personnel promptly arrived at the scene and initiated rescue operations. The fire originated in a godown on the ground floor before rapidly spreading throughout the building.
"While most occupants managed to escape, one family became trapped. Two bodies have been recovered from the site. The upper floors are engulfed in flames and thick smoke, hindering access for rescue teams. Personnel from Fire and Emergency Services, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), and police are actively involved in the operation. There are concerns that more bodies may be present within the building," Commissioner Singh stated.
Initial investigations indicate that the structure contains godowns on the ground and first two floors.
Local BJP MLA Uday Garudachar and Joint Police Commissioner (East) Vamshikrishna have also visited the scene.
The fire reportedly broke out unexpectedly in a ground-floor godown, subsequently engulfing the entire building. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, with initial assessments suggesting it started in a plastic mat godown.
Approximately 18 fire tenders have been deployed to manage the blaze. However, narrow roadways have posed challenges for Fire and Emergency Services personnel and their vehicles. Three ambulances have also been dispatched to the area.
Further updates will be provided as rescue operations continue.
Former MLA and local Congress leader R.V. Devaraju, who visited the site earlier, indicated that one fatality has been confirmed while three others are feared deceased. An official statement from the police department is anticipated.