Major Fire Ravages Vadodara's Cine Mall, Narrowly Avoiding Catastrophe
A significant fire erupted at the popular Cine Mall near Natubhai Circle in Vadodara on Thursday afternoon. The blaze caused substantial damage to a portion of the building structure. Authorities confirmed that no injuries occurred during the incident. Police officials emphasized that a potential major tragedy was prevented, especially considering the close proximity of a petrol pump to the mall.
Swift Emergency Response Contains Blaze
Fire department personnel reacted immediately to the emergency call. Five fire tenders and several teams of firefighters arrived at the location within minutes. These dedicated crews worked tirelessly to combat the flames. It took them approximately one hour to fully bring the fire under control. Senior police officers also promptly reached the site to supervise rescue operations and initiate preliminary investigations.
Additional Police Commissioner Leena Patil provided initial findings to reporters. She stated that early evidence suggests the fire likely started due to an explosion in a car parked within the mall compound. "The resulting flames rapidly spread to the air-conditioning systems," Patil explained. "This caused the fire to quickly engulf various areas across multiple floors of the building."
Holiday Timing Limits Human Impact
The Cine Mall complex contains numerous retail shops and several cinema screens. Fire Officer Ganpat Zalaiya noted that the human impact remained minimal because very few people were inside the mall at the time. The coincidence of the kite-flying festival and general holidays meant the premises were largely vacant.
"The cinema halls were completely empty," Zalaiya clarified. "Only a handful of staff members were present inside the mall. All of them were evacuated safely without any harm. Furthermore, the adjacent petrol pump was shut down immediately after the fire was reported as a precautionary measure."
Preventive Actions Avert Escalation
Police authorities detailed additional preventive steps taken to avoid a worse scenario. Officers promptly moved a fuel tanker that was parked at the neighboring petrol pump away from the danger zone. This action helped prevent any potential escalation of the fire incident.
As information about the fire spread through the city, a large crowd of concerned citizens gathered outside the mall. Police personnel quickly established a security cordon around the area. They effectively regulated the movement of onlookers to ensure public safety and allow emergency teams to work without obstruction.
The combined efforts of fire services and police departments ensured the situation was managed efficiently. Their rapid response played a crucial role in containing the damage and safeguarding lives and property in the busy urban area.
