Karnataka / Fire Engulfs Over 150 Cars in Chennai Parking Lot Day After Blaze at Aero India 2019 in Bengaluru

The incident came just a day after a major fire swept through the parking area of the Aero India event at the Yelahanka Air Force station in Bengaluru, gutting about 300 cars. Over 150 cars were gutted on Sunday when a major fire swept through a parking lot at a suburban neighbourhood, with thick columns of black smoke engulfing the entire area, inconveniencing the people and causing anxiety.

"The blaze is suspected to have been triggered after tall dried grass caught fire by a discarded smouldering cigarette butt," a suburban Fire and Rescue Services official told PTI.

Of the total 208 parked cars, 176 were gutted and 32 were "saved from the fire," he said.

The cars were parked "bumper to bumper" in close proximity and is suspected to have been one of the reasons for the blaze having spread so quickly.

The parking lot is situated bang opposite a large private sector medical college and hospital at suburban Porur.

Several road users and local residents said huge colums of smoke billowed out of the facility, causing anxiety and inconvenice.