Fire breaks out at chemical godown

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 23

A fire broke out at chemical godown where thinner was stored behind Bapu Dham Colony in Sector 26 here this evening. A major tragedy was averted as the godown was next to an LPG cylinder store and residential area.

Four persons, who were at the godown at the time of the incident, rushed out and saved themselves from the blaze.

Firemen said they were yet to ascertain the cause of the fire. It seemed to be a short circuit or somebody might have thrown a burning ‘bidi’ causing thinner to catch fire, said Ishwar Dass, a fire sub-officer from the Industrial Area Fire Station present at the spot.

According to the Sector 17 Station Fire Officer, ML Sharma, the fire broke out at 5.26 pm at the fish market, located near Bapu Dham Colony.

It took almost two hours and a half for eight fire tenders, including water boozers, to control the fire.

The place where the incident took place was a godown of thinner used to polish wooden furniture and in printing press. The factory is in Dera Bassi and the thinner is stored at the godown here.

“Since it was chemical, it was not possible to douse the flames with water only. It could be doused by using a form compound. Plastic and metal thinner cans at the godown saw minor blasts,” added Sharma.

Meanwhile, the firefighting operation was tough for firemen as the whole area was under complete darkness. The only light they could depend on was that of the blaze. The fire was controlled at about 8 pm. The firemen were still at the spot dousing the flames till filing of this report.