Bengaluru: Nearly 100 vehicles were gutted in a fire that broke out at the parking area of the Aero India 2019 Air Show in Bengaluru. Officials say that it was splintered from a cigarette butt that caught on to the dry grass lying nearby and led to a massive blaze at the Yelahanka Air Base in the Karnataka Capital.

Plumes of black smoke bellowed from the area as the fire continued to engulf everything that came its way.

Hundreds of vehicles including 2 wheelers and 4 wheelers of visitors who had come to witness the air show, was reduced to ashes due to the fire.

Senior police officer MN Reddi said that the fire spread because of a combination of heavy winds and dry grass. Many cars are still seen parked in slots around the fire but no one is being allowed to access the area.

People have been shifted into the area with the stalls. However, the scene at the area is surprisingly relaxed, said one of the visitors at the show.

"Fire in the open field parking lot of aero show. Nearly 20 cars burnt. Fire fighting operations by Chief Fire Officer and 10 water tenders staff underway (sic)," tweeted senior police official MN Reddi. This was the first information of the fire put out on social media.

The air show has been brought to a halt as no planes were made to take off, due to the cloud of black smoke that took over the air space.

The five-day air show started on Wednesday and will conclude tomorrow.

More details are awaited

Also Watch: