Tray unit gutted in Dera Bassi

A massive fire broke out at Neelkanth Industries, an egg and apple tray manufacturer, on the Haripur Hinduan road in Dera Bassi around 5 pm today.

This is the second industrial mishap in the district in past two days as after a massive explosion at an oxygen plant in Industrial Area, Phase 9, Mohali, yesterday. Two youths died in the blast.

Five fire tenders were pressed into service. It took them three hours to control the blaze. While no loss of life was reported in the accident, the raw material, finished products, and machinery worth lakhs were destroyed in the fire.

Eyewitnesses said a majority of the staff was at work when the fire broke out. Workers reportedly complained of a short-circuit. Dera Bassi Fire Officer Baljeet Singh said, "The exact cause of the fire will be known after a thorough investigation into the fire."