Fire breaks out at revolving restaurant in Panchkula, no casualties reported

As per details, the fire was first noticed in the false ceiling near the restaurant’s kitchen and soon began spreading to other areas. Around a dozen firefighters who arrived at the spot later took at least 45 minutes to ring the blaze under control. Around half a dozen employees and a similar number of customers were present in the restaurant when the blaze was first noticed. All of them were rescued to safety by the firemen.

Fire department officials who reached the spot said that the blaze started in the false ceiling of the restaurant and soon spread to other parts, leading to thick, black smoke billowing out of the building. A hydraulic lift with an automatic attached ladder was later brought in by the fire department but not pressed into use as the rescuers realised that they wouldn’t be able to reach the 11th floor with it. Instead the fire department officials took the stairs and climbed up 11 floors before they began fighting the blaze.

Tarsem Singh, Chief Fire Officer of Sector 5 fire station, Panchkula, said, “The blaze has been controlled. The fire broke out inside the false ceiling near the restaurant’s kitchen. It appears like a short circuit may have caused the fire. A thick blanket of smoke engulfed the entire roof area within minutes. We called in nearly 10 fire tenders from various stations.”

Panchkula Mayor, Kulbhushan Goyal, said, “The false ceiling was damaged in the fire. The firemen took the help of the fire safety equipment installed inside the restaurant to douse the flames. The restaurant had recently procured an NoC from the district fire department.”

A woman employee of Aasman Revolving Bar & Restaurant said, “The incident took place around 9.56 am. Not many people were in the restaurant at the time. The reception and guest rooms are on the first and second floors. By the time the fire spread, people had managed to rush downstairs.”

General manager of the eatery, Suresh Thakur, was not available for comment.