FireTragedy – Elderly Man Killed in Massive Ghaziabad AC Centre Blaze
FireTragedy – A devastating fire broke out at an air conditioner service centre in Ghaziabad during the early hours of Saturday, leaving one elderly man dead and causing extensive damage to nearby vehicles and property. The incident occurred in the Patel Nagar area, where residents were awakened by loud explosions and thick smoke spreading across the locality.
Explosions Trigger Panic in Residential Area
According to officials from the fire department, the emergency call was received around 3:05 a.m. regarding a blaze at plot number F-87 in Patel Nagar. Firefighters from the Kotwali fire station were immediately dispatched to the location with multiple fire engines.
Authorities said the flames intensified rapidly because several AC compressors and gas cylinders stored inside the service centre began exploding one after another. The repeated blasts created panic among residents living nearby, many of whom rushed out of their homes in fear as the fire spread through the building.
Narrow Lanes Complicated Rescue Operation
Fire officials stated that rescue efforts became difficult due to the congested layout of the neighbourhood. Patel Nagar is a densely populated locality with closely packed residential structures and narrow internal roads, making it challenging for emergency vehicles to move quickly through the area.
Huge flames and heavy black smoke could be seen rising from the building for several hours. Firefighters laid multiple water lines around the structure to stop the fire from reaching adjoining houses and commercial establishments.
Additional Fire Teams Called for Support
As the situation worsened, additional firefighting units were brought in from Vaishali, Sahibabad and Modinagar fire stations. Nearly eight fire tenders were eventually involved in the operation to control the blaze.
Officials said the continuous explosions from cooling equipment and gas cylinders slowed down firefighting work and forced crews to proceed cautiously. Despite the difficult conditions, teams managed to contain the flames after several hours of sustained efforts.
Elderly Victim Found After Fire Was Controlled
After the blaze was brought under control, firefighters carried out a search operation inside the damaged building. During the inspection, they recovered the body of an elderly man from the ground floor.
The deceased was later identified as 80-year-old Triloki Nath. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether he was trapped inside the building when the fire started or if he was unable to escape during the incident.
Vehicles and Property Severely Damaged
The fire also caused major destruction in the surrounding area. Officials confirmed that two cars and nearly ten motorcycles parked close to the building were completely destroyed by the flames.
Residents reported that the intense heat and continuous blasts created chaos in the locality, while smoke spread across nearby streets for hours. Local authorities are currently assessing the full extent of the property damage caused by the incident.
Investigation Into Cause of Fire Underway
Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the exact reason behind the fire. Officials are expected to examine whether safety norms related to the storage of gas cylinders and AC equipment were properly followed at the service centre.
Further details regarding the cause of the blaze and the circumstances surrounding the death are expected after the completion of the investigation.