UDAIPUR, August 10(TIWN): The people of Udaipur narrowly escaped death when fire broke out at a petrol pump.Tension prevailed for some hours in Udaipur town of Gomati district on Monday afternoon when fire broke out at Kiran Petrol pump situated opposite to Udaipur UBI bank triggering panic among the people of the area at the petrol pump. Three people identified as Samir Das, Papiya Debnath and Bishal Das sustained severe injuries while some damage has been caused due to the fire that broke out in the car inside the petrol pump. However, the fire altogether gutted two bikes on the spot and a car in the petrol pump spreading horror among the people of the area. The car from which the fire sparked off was immediately rushed near a lake to spread the explosion at the petrol pump. According to the eyewitnesses, the newly wedded couple who were moving to their house from Belonia to Gandacheera entered to the petrol pump for refilling petrol and the fire spread in the petrol pump from the flame of the earthen lamp in the car. The eye witness also said that the fire broke out due to the oil leakage from the car. Getting alarm about the fire incident huge police force of RK Pur police station along with 3 fire service crew reached the spot and after several attempts brought the fire under control. Fortunately the fire fighters reached the spot on time and contained the fire that prevented the flames to spread to the filling station.

The fire was sparked off in the spot where vehicles are refilled, police said. Eye-witnesses claimed the fire first broke out in a car and spread to the station. All the people sustained injuries were given immediate medical aid to restrain the burn injuries in their body.Tension gripped the area and many local shopkeepers shut down their establishments in panic. People ran to safer place fearing a massive fire in case the flames touched the filling station. Fortunately fire brigades arrived on time and controlled the flames.

Following the incident huge crowd gathered kiran petrol pump. Though the police and fire tenders reached the spot, the panic gradually spread in the entire area generating serious terror among the locals in the area.

In addition to causing fire and explosion hazards, fire can also damage vegetation, including large trees, and releases powerful greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, local people added.

Three persons, including husband and wife, suffered minor injuries in the incident. The locality was barricaded and entry to the petrol pump spot was blocked. Traffic was also diverted in the locality to ensure that rescue work was not hindered.

However, after battling for more than two hours the fire was brought under control and the situation was settled down with the joint initiative of police and fire service crew.