20160519 India Officials keep fire at airport hub under wraps
India May 18 2016 “Other”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Officials keep fire at airport hub under wraps
Updated: 2016-05-19-05:51
Airport officials downplayed a major fire that broke out at the Security Hold Area (SHA) of the Aurangabad airport, where passengers wait before heading to board the flight, early on May 14.
Officials were tight-lipped about the fire that raged for over two hours in the key airport area, while firemen and personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) struggled to locate the keys to the area.
Sources said the fire broke out at the SHA around 12.30am on May 14, following which, the CISF raised an alarm and alerted the in-house fire station. A team of seven firemen rushed to the spot around 12.45am, but to their dismay, they could not enter the SHA as the entrance was locked.
After struggling to locate the keys, the fire brigade team cut open the lock using a bolt cutter from the rescue tool kit at around 3 am in the presence of CISF authorities. Till then, fire and smoke had engulfed the entire area. The incident has allegedly damaged the battery and some other gadgets placed on the false ceiling of the SHA. The area is considered a key filter in the high security zone airport.
Sources in AAI fire brigade crew said the incident was possibly the result of a short circuit. They claimed that had there been further delay in dousing the fire, it would have definitely resulted in an inferno engulfing a huge area of the terminus.
A security expert said, “The incident has exposed the lack of coordination between various departments at the Aurangabad airport. Considering this incident, the situation at the airport needs to be reviewed.”
A senior security official said, “The SHA, where commuters are made to are made to wait before boarding the flight, remains under constant watch of the sleuths from the intelligence and security agencies, who look for commuter with suspicious behaviour.”
CISF authorities said timely response by them and the in-house fire brigade team successfully mitigated the fire. A detailed report about the incident has been sent to the DIG CISF.
Airport director Alok Varshneya said, “There was a small incident of fire at Aurangabad airport on May 14. The UPS (uninterrupted power supply) of one flight information display unit in lower security hold area got overheated and burnt. This led to immediate ringing of fire alarms. It was immediately checked by on duty electrical staff. On site fire extinguisher was used to douse the fire.”
He added, “The UPS and CPU (central processing unit) of the display unit were gutted in the fire. This incident happened at 12.45am. Smoke filled the lower floor of security hold area, which was driven out with the help of fans. There was no other loss of property as quick action and ringing of fire alarms proved the effectiveness of fire monitoring and control system.”
Web Source: THE TIMES OF INDIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/Officials-keep-fire-at-airport-hub-under-wraps/articleshow/52335068.cms