Chemical factory goes up in flames

Sanjay Bumbroo
Tribune News Service
Mohali, March 15

A major fire broke out in an industrial unit in the Phase 7 Industrial Area here, gutting the chemical factory this afternoon. However, no loss of life was reported in the incident.

According to eyewitnesses, multiple explosions were heard during the fire at the thinner factory as highly inflammable chemicals, that had been stored in barrels, exploded followed by ball of fire rising into the air.

The intensity of the fire was such that black smoke layers could be seen as far as 8 to 10 km from the city.

Four factory workers, who were working inside the factory when the blasts took place, scaled the walls of the factory to save their lives. The owner of the factory, Sat Pal Garg, was also inside the factory at the time of the incident. Workers said after they noticed the fire, they rushed out of the factory to save their lives. The owner also ran out.

Five fire engines were pressed into service by the Mohali Fire Department, besides a water boozer, which made 20 rounds to douse the fire. Three fire engines from Chandigarh were also pressed into service.

It took the firefighters about three hours to douse the fire.

Garg claimed that he lost material worth several lakhs in the fire incident.

The unit was loaded with hundreds of drums full of thinner and a tank in the basement on the rear side of the unit was also full of thinner. 

Jagdeep Saigal, SDM, said no loss of live had been reported in the fire incident. He said he would submit a report to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard after inspecting the unit.

During an inspection of the factory, Saigal found lack of proper firefighting equipment at the unit. The owner had not got clearance from the Fire and Pollution departments.

Garg, however, claimed that he had an NOC from the Fire Department for his unit.