17 bikes catch fire near Sion Hospital, mischief suspected

Nearly 17 motorbikes parked outside a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) building in Sion were on fire on Friday night near the Sion Hospital. No casualties or injuries were reported.

According to the police, the fire was noticed around midnight by the locals of Sundar Kamla Nagar. By the time they could try to douse it, all the bikes parked in the vicinity along with two trees around were already set ablaze.

Nearly 45 minutes after the incident took place, four fire tenders reached the spot after the locals alerted the fire brigade. "We have taken the samples from the spot and have sent them for forensic examination. Once we get the reports, we can ascertain whether the bikes were deliberately set ablaze or it was an accident," said a fire brigade official. The local police are also investigating the matter and are checking the possibility of involvement of any anti-social elements behind the incident.

"We have registered a case against unknown accused persons and have charged them with causing mischief using fire or explosive substances with an intention of damaging property under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. We are awaiting the fire brigades report for further investigation and we are still gathering the information about the cause of the fire," said senior police inspector of Sion police station, Lalita Gaikwad.

Saved In Time

• No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident. 
• The fire was noticed by the locals at midnight on Friday.
• 17 bikes and two trees were covered in blazes.