Four office-goers charred to death, five suffer burns as vehicle catches fire near Pune
Pune(PTI): Four employees of a private firm were charred to death and five others injured after their company vehicle caught fire near Pune on Wednesday morning, police said.
An official said the casualties resulted because the emergency exit at the rear side of the minibus could not be opened.
The incident occurred at Hinjewadi in the Pimpri Chinchwad area around 7.30 am, an official said. The vehicle was ferrying 12 employees of Vyoma Graphics from Warje to Hinjewadi at the time, he said.
When the vehicle was near Dassault Systemes, a fire started close to the driver’s feet. The driver slowed down the vehicle after the fire spread to the front side, said Kanhaiya Thorat, senior police inspector of Hinjewadi police station.
“Sensing danger, four employees immediately got off the minibus. Those at the rear side of the vehicle tried to escape through the emergency exit at the backside.
“Preliminary probe suggests that some employees failed to evict themselves after the exit door did not open. While four of them charred to death, five others sustained burns, the official said.
Hinjewadi Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishal Gaikwad said the bodies were removed from the vehicle and the injured were rushed to the hospital for medical care.
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
