Textile stocks destroyed in fire

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 17

Another fire broke out at a textile factory on a street near Gopichand Filling Station, Chandigarh Road, here today. Around eight fire tenders were sent to put out the fire which broke out at 1:40 pm. It was fully controlled after about three hours. Though stocks were destroyed in the fire, no casualty was reported. A short-circuit was cited as reason behind the fire.

The Fire Station Officer, KL Kakkar, said textile stocks were destroyed but the firefighters were able to control the fire timely.

According to fire officials, approximately 80 per cent fires in the city are caused by a short-circuit, a major reason for which being precariously hanging naked wires.

In the interior parts of the city, including the busy Chaura Bazar, Gur Mandi, Talab Bazar, Sarafan Bazar, Pindi Street, Kambal Bazar or Akal Garh Market, and many outer areas such as Industrial Area and Focal Point, naked wires hanging precariously pose threat not only to buildings but also passersby.

The Additional District Fire Officer (ADFO), Bhupinder Singh, said the city was sitting on a powder keg. “Most of the fire incidents in the city are caused by a short-circuit. We need to learn from the past and must not ignore the precariously hanging wires,” said the ADFO.

During the extreme hot weather, the rubber on wires gets melted. “None pays heed to the threat posed by naked wires. Be it shopkeepers, vendors, visitors or the authorities, all are busy in their own lives, perhaps waiting for a major tragedy to happen,” said Sham Lal, who sells hair-accessories outside a shop at Chaura Bazar.

Many fire incidents have taken place in these interior areas. Firefighters had a tough time dousing flames in these congested areas.