Every minute counts in case of fire accidents. However, investigations into the Monday’s fire accident in the Begumpet airport hangar, reveals that 20 precious minutes were lost before fire-fighters arrived.
A guard on duty at the Begumpet Air Force Station had noticed the fire at around 11.15 p.m. Sources, however, pointed out that the crash fire tenders from fire station inside the airport arrived only after 11.35 p.m. In the interregnum, six trainer aircraft and the chopper were gutted.
Sources said the crash fire tenders arrived after being alerted by a private security guard near the airport premises and not by the on-duty civil guard posted by the Aviation Academy or the two policemen guarding the government chopper.
“Why the policemen and guard inside the hangar delayed in making the fire call will be investigated,” a police official on condition of anonymity said. Authorities said that the fire control room received a call from a night duty Sub-Inspector from the police control room at 11.35 p.m.
A fire tender from the Secunderabad station started at 11.36 p.m. and another multipurpose tender was dispatched at 11.40 p.m. when it was realised that the intensity of fire was high.
Later, ten more vehicles from different fire stations were rushed, said Assistant District Fire Officer Y. Prabhakar Reddy. Fire tenders of the Air Force Station, Hakeempet too assisted in dousing the flames.
