An overheated silencer of a car stationed at the parking lot of the Yelahanka Air Force station could have probably caused the fire, the Ministry of Defence has suggested. A Defence Ministry spokesperson said in a tweet, “This quickly led to spreading of the fire, accentuated by strong winds.”
During the briefing to RM Smt @nsitharaman, the probable cause was stated as fire starting from an overheated silencer of one of the cars parked in the Parking Area of AeroIndia2019 . This quickly led to spreading of fire accentuated by strong winds. (1/n)@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/bCHj5NQKpx
— Defence Spokesperson (@SpokespersonMoD) February 24, 2019
Meanwhile, a high level meeting was constituted by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to review the Aero India show that concluded in Bengaluru on Sunday. The massive fire in the air base parking lot on Saturday that gutted about 300 cars and the death of an IAF pilot after two Surya Kiran jets collided in the air and crashed on Tuesday while rehearsing for the flying display, were discussed at the meeting, where IAF and defence ministry officials, state officials and city police were present.
"It was decided that both the central and state government departments and agencies concerned would work in coordination for relief works. It was also decided to provide all the required assistance to the victims who lost their vehicles. It was decided to take extra precautions while organising such events in future," read a statement from the Chief Minister's Office.
During the meeting, the reason for the fire at the parking place and mitigating measures taken after the incident were discussed with state Home Minister MB Patil, who was also present. "The meeting decided to take precautions while organising such events in future and measures to mitigate the hardship of the gutted car owners," added the statement.
Earlier on Sunday, Nirmala Sitharaman visited the site of the fire which gutted cars stationed at the parking lot of the air show.
Kumaraswamy urged the Defence Minister to continue holding the biennial airshow in Bengaluru.
"Kumaraswamy requested Sitharaman to hold the Aero India air show in Bengaluru only in the coming years too as the 2019 and previous 11 editions were held here over the last 22 years," said the statement, after they met at the CMO in Bengaluru.
The appeal comes after Nirmala Sitharaman did not announce the dates of the next Aero India show in 2021, as has been the practice in international airshows.
Speculation was rife in July-August last year about a change of venue following media reports that the Defence Ministry was planning to shift the prestigious event to Uttar Pradesh ahead of the general elections.