Major fire at Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad, 1 CISF personnel injured

AHMEDABAD: A major fire broke out at the Space Applications Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The blaze occurred in the area where the machinery is stored. Seven fire tenders have been rushed to the spot. There are reports that one personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been injured. It is likely to take a couple of hours to douse the flames completely.

"A major fire broke out at the research centre inside the sprawling SAC campus in the Satellite area of the city this afternoon. As many as 25 fire tenders have been pressed into service by the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES)," an AFES official said. There are 10 ambulances at the spot for rescue operations.

"It will take another two hours to control the fire completely as thermocol sheets are still burning and emitting smoke. However, the fire has been brought under control," he said.

In the video recorded from the scene, thick black smoke can be seen emitting out of the building. 

#WATCH: Fire broke out due to short circuit in the machinery department at Ahmedabad's Space Applications Centre. 20 fire tenders & 10 ambulances at the spot, 1 CISF personnel injured. pic.twitter.com/rROWwQl4vL

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2018

Ahmedabad District Collector Vikrant Pandey, who was also on the spot, said the blaze had engulfed the research centre building, that stood isolated. "The fire will not spread to other buildings on the premises," he added. "All our teams are at the site and it will soon be brought under control," Pandey added.

The SAC is a major research centre of the ISRO in the city, where payloads for satellite launched by the country are prepared. The centre was established by Vikram Sarabhai - the father of the Indian space programme. 

After being alerted about the incident, Additional Chief Fire Officer Rajesh Bhatt and other senior AFES officials rushed to the spot.

(With PTI inputs)