Atleast 300 cars were destroyed after a massive fire broke out Saturday in the parking lot of the Yelahankha airbase in Bengaluru where the Aero India 2019 show is underway. A billow of black smoke was seen above the airbase as at least 10 fire force and 5 fire engines were rushed to bring it under control.
The cause of the fire is still unknown and there are no reports of injury so far.
The parking area catches fire during the Bangalore aero show. pic.twitter.com/uQ0gNGL8qC
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, taking note of the incident, said he has instructed police and fire officials to take action. Union Minister of Statistics and former chief minister of Karnataka Sadananda Gowda asked people around the venue to stay safe.
Meanwhile, Indian Air Force PRO Anupam Banerjee stated that Aero show will continue as scheduled for the fifth day, furthering that people should not pay heed to rumours.
The 12th edition of Aero India, Asia’s biggest air show, opened on Wednesday with an inaugural speech by Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The five-day biennial airshow got underway on a sombre note with the IAF flying a special “missing man’’ formation in memory of Wg Cdr Sahil Gandhi, 37, who died when a Hawk 132 aircraft crashed during a rehearsal for the event on Tuesday.
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In her inaugural address, Sitharaman had said the aerospace sector in the country is gradually moving towards being an exporter and not merely an importer.
One of the highlights of the flying display on an opening day was the Rafale fighter jet by French firm Dassault Aviation.