Fire engulfs Sec 22 photo lab, spreads panic

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 19

Panic gripped the mobile market in Sector 22-C when a fire incident occurred in a photo lab this evening. The incident took place on the second floor of SCF number 1037 and was reported to fire officials around 6 pm by Mayor Davesh Moudgil, who was in the market for some personal work.

Fire brigade vehicles reached the spot immediately and controlled the fire within an hour before it could spread further. Five fire tenders were engaged in the firefighting operation. While no loss of life was reported in the incident, goods and equipment of the photo mixing lab worth lakhs was destroyed in the fire. Around 10 employees were working when the fire incident took place. Owner of the lab Shiv Kapoor became unconscious after the incident due to panic and was taken to a hospital by family members. Dharmendra, an employee who was working in the lab, said around 6 pm, he saw smoke coming out from a corner of the lab. Panicked, he informed his fellow employees, who ran towards the ground level. Ramesh, another employee of the lab, said it was a close shave for all of them as the fire spread soon after they reached the ground level.

The Mayor was present on the spot till the fire was controlled. He directed fire officials to conduct a fresh survey of shops in the market and ensure that such incidents did not recur. ML Sharma, Fire Station Officer, said the shop was earlier served a notice.

Deepak Nagpal, who owns a shop at the ground level of the SCF, said nearly 80 per cent work for the installation of the firefighting system in the SCF had been completed.