300 vehicles gutted in Aero-India air show

NEW DELHI: At least 300 vehicles were gutted on Saturday by a major fire inside the parking lot of the venue of an ongoing air show, Aero-India, in southern Indian city of Bengaluru, officials said.

No loss of life was reported in the incident. Flame and plumes of thick black smoke were seen leaping upwards in the sky near the Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka.

Officials said the fire was completely doused and brought under control.

“In all, 300 cars (were) burnt in the fire incident. Fire fully extinguished now. Ten fire force and five other fire engines fought the fire under the leadership of chief fire officer, West,” M N Reddi, Karnataka director general of police and fire services, wrote on twitter.

Officials suspect the cause of fire could be a burning cigarette butt disposed on the grass in the open field.

Reddi said the fire spread because of the heavy winds.

On Tuesday, two Hawk aircraft of Surya Kiran (sun ray) aerobatic team crashed close to Yelahanka air force base during the practice for the show. One pilot was killed and two others injured in the mid-air crash. The five-day air show started on Wednesday and will conclude on Sunday.