Dry fruit packaging unit gutted in Amirtsar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 7

A major fire broke out at a dry fruit packaging factory in Anand Vihar on Jhabal Road around 11.30 am on Friday. More than 200 workers, who were working inside the factory, had a narrow escape during the fire incident.

No casualty was reported, but goods worth crores were reduced to ashes. Dry fruit was stored in a huge quantity at the unit.

Rohit Bajaj, owner of the factory, claimed that he suferred a loss of around Rs18 crore. “All workers are safe. Initially, they tried hard to douse the flames. Later, eight fire engines of the MC, two from the Indian Air Force and one from Khanna Paper Mill, took six hours to bring fire under control,” said Bajaj.

Officials claimed that they had to refill fire engines 40 times. Fire officer Raj Anthony said, “A huge quantity of packaging material was stored at the factory. Cardboard and plastic caught fire rapidly. A chemical, which they use in the factory, was highly flammable. So our firefighters worked hard to control the fire. Fortunately, the approach roads were there around the factory.”

Workers claimed that a short-circuit might have led to the incident. Panic gripped the area as flames could be seen from a distance.

“It will take some more time to douse the flames completely. All eight fire tenders and firefighters from four fire stations are at the spot,” said Anthony.