Dombivli parking blaze that destroyed 29 vehicles, injured 5 was 'started on purpose'; 1 held

KALYAN: In a major breakthrough in the fire incident reported at in a basement of a housing society in Dombivli, police investigations have revealed that the blaze was allegedly deliberate and not accidental. The fire, which had erupted in the parking area of Ravikiran Society in Sagaon, left five persons seriously injured and gutted 29 two-wheelers.

Officials from the Manpada police said CCTV footage from the society's parking area played a key role in the investigation. "The footage showed a young man throwing an object into a garbage bin. Within seconds, a fire broke out, which then spread rapidly in the parking area," an officer said.

Based on the evidence, police arrested a resident of the building, identified as Lavesh Parte. He was produced before the Kalyan court, which remanded him to two days' police custody. Suhas Hemade, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dombivli division said, "Our team are now probing what object the accused allegedly brought from his residence and disposed of in the bin, which triggered the blaze. The motive behind the act is also under investigation".

The incident occurred around 4.15am in the parking premises of Raj Apartment within the society. Thick smoke quickly spread through the building, triggering panic among residents. Among the injured, a woman continues to be in critical condition.