Two brothers from Rajasthan die in godown fire in Pimpri-Chinchwad

Initial observations suggest that the fire started in the godown that housed wooden items and then spread to the other once. (Express photo by Rajesh Stephen)

Kamlesh Arjun Chaudhary (23), his younger brother Lalit (21) and another person were sleeping in an attic in the godown that housed aluminium frames. Officials said one of them managed to come out in time after the fire started. “The two brothers had moved to Pune more than a month ago,” said an official.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) with Pimpri Chinchwad police, Swapna Gore said, “Initial observations suggest that the fire started in the godown that housed wooden items and then spread to the other once. We have come to know that the workers do not usually sleep in the premises, but on Monday night, they did.”

“A case has been registered and we are investigating. If the probe points to negligence on any person’s part, a case will be registered accordingly. At this point, the exact cause of the fire has not been ascertained.” said Inspector Dilip Shinde, in-charge of Chinchwad police station.

“The fire spread very quickly and generated intense smoke because of wooden items stored in the first godown. In such cases, victims often fall unconscious after inhaling fumes that have carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. We have reason to believe that the same thing happened here, and the brothers were rendered helpless after they inhaled the fumes. They were suffocated and then charred to death,” said Gautam Ingawale, Station Officer for Pradhikaran Fire Station.

“Before our tenders reached, locals had been trying to douse the blaze with whatever means they had. We brought the fire under control within a few minutes,” Ingawale said.

“It took four fire tenders and 40 fire fighters to bring the fire under control. The exact cause of the fire is being ascertained.” said the fire station officer.