THIS is the shocking moment a busy market stall was engulfed in flames yesterday afternoon.
Onlookers in Southall were rushed to safety as cops urged bystanders to “get back”.
X/@GurwinderkailayCops could be seen urging onlookers to move away from the flames[/caption]
X/@GurwinderkailayThe canvas stall was torn apart by the fire[/caption]
X/@GurwinderkailayThe London Fire Brigade were first made aware of the incident around 12:42 yesterday[/caption]
Some onlookers quickly turned to social media to post videos of the chaotic sceneX/@Sangha2Bs
Others attempted to pull gas canisters away from the roaring flames on South Road.
Passersby could be heard shouting to one another amidst the bellowing smoke.
As more of the food stall went up in flames, the dense crowd of terrified locals seemed undecided on whether to run away or witness the chaos unfold.
Some appeared to hide behind a parked vehicle on the other side of the road before the emergency services set up a cordon around the scene.
With the blaze taking hold of what appeared to be scaffolding and canvas, two cylinders caught alight.
Firefighters later removed these from the scene as a precaution.
Several people were injured with some requiring hospital treatment following the incident.
The blaze was first reported around 12:42 yesterday and required two fire engines and a fire rescue unit to safely extinguish it.
Southall’s Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan celebration usually sees thousands gather for the Sikh religious procession in west London.
The annual celebration is one of the nation’s largest outdoor religious celebrations.
It usually features singing of spiritual hymns and performances of a Sikh martial art called Gatka.
Vaisakhi marks the creation of the Khalsa and is often mistaken for the Sikh New Year.
Ealing Council confirmed the decision to cancel the event, which was due to end at 4pm, urging people to avoid the area as an investigation was underway.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “We were called at 1242 yesterday to reports of a fire at a food stall on South Road in Southall.
“Two fire engines and a fire rescue unit attended and firefighters safely extinguished the fire.
“Crews also removed two gas cylinders, which were alight, from the scene and cooled them to an ambient temperature as a precaution, as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat.
“Several people were treated at the scene, with some requiring further hospital treatment.”
Following the investigation, the fire has been recorded as accidental.
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