Major fire breaks out in TBRL forest area

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 16

A major fire broke out in the forest area of Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL), Ramgarh, near Panchkula.

The fire broke out around 4 pm and it was still on till the filing of the report.

Around eight fire brigade vehicles, including five from the Panchkula fire station, had been sent to the TBRL to douse the flames.

However, no loss of life was reported in the incident.

The Panchkula fire station claimed that they had received a call at 7:10 pm. The TBRL too has its own three fire tenders.

The fire is at distance from the residential area of the TBRL.

“There is no need to panic. Around 4 pm, we had tested a high-calibre warhead. It is of 200 kg. Its splinters spread to a large area. There were dry grass which caught fire. Within 15 minutes, the fire would be completely extinguished,” said TBRL Director Dr Manjit Singh.

He said: “The TBRL is fully capable to extinguish the fire. We have our own fire tenders. The civil administration did send five fire tenders but they were not used.”

The TBRL is a Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory near Billa village in Panchkula. It is a testing facility and a high-risk area. Adjacent to the TBRL, there is an ITBP camp also.