Narrow escape for owner’s family in factory fire

Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, July 23

Five members of a family, including three children, had a miraculous escape when a fire broke out in a factory, Keshav Yarns, at Basant Vihar, Noorwala Road, this morning.

The factory is owned by Pankaj Sehgal. Around 5 am, Pankaj, who was on the second floor of the building along with his wife and three children, noticed thick smoke emanating from the first floor. Soon, the first and the ground floor were completely engulfed by the fire and thick smoke filled the staircase. All members of the family escaped jumping on to the neighbour’s terrace.

Pankaj said as they were trying to escape, his wife fainted but she regained consciousness later. There was no workers in the factory at the time of fire.

The factory was gutted in the fire and short-circuit could be the cause, he added.

Sub-fire Officer Aatish Rai said the fire was controlled within an hour. One fire engine was pressed into service.

Pankaj said he couldn’t assess the loss at this stage.