Rajkot: Three people were injured after a major fire broke out at Khau Gali behind Hemu Gadhvi Hall in Rajkot on Friday afternoon when a gas pipeline was accidentally damaged during excavation work for laying a DI pipeline by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC).The fire engulfed several food carts in the area and spread to nearby Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) transformer and a two-wheeler. Dry grass in an open plot behind the site was also set ablaze, triggering panic in the locality.Deputy chief fire officer Mubarak Juneja told the media that the blaze was brought under control with the help of three fire tenders. An emergency ambulance team from the 108 service also reached the site, and three injured people were shifted to a hospital for treatment.According to sources, the injured were identified as Shivam Ganatra, Hitendrasinh Jhala and Mehul Bharwad.RMC city engineer Atul Raval said that excavation work was under way to lay the DI pipeline. However, the gas pipeline was found at a location different from the one indicated on the utility map.The fire caused panic as the incident took place during the afternoon, when Khau Gali is usually crowded with people. As the flames spread rapidly, people rushed to safety and the entire lane was quickly cleared.
