Dwarka Expressway fire: Unregistered plastic unit catches fire, fire tenders struggle to reach spot

In yet another major fire incident at an allegedly unregistered industrial unit in Gurugram, a massive blaze broke out at a plastic waste warehouse in Sector 112 near the Dwarka Expressway on Wednesday, with fire tenders struggling for hours to reach the spot due to blocked access roads and ongoing construction work.

The fire erupted at a plastic waste godown operated by Shiv Shankar Enterprises on Firni Road in Bajghera village. Within minutes, thick black smoke engulfed the area as highly combustible plastic scrap fuelled the flames. The blaze was so intense that flames and smoke could be seen from several kilometres away, creating panic among nearby residents and workers in adjoining warehouses.

According to officials and local residents, firefighting operations were severely hampered because the main road leading to the warehouse was shut due to construction activity. Fire brigade vehicles were forced to take narrow kacha routes through agricultural fields to reach the site.

Residents initially tried to contain the flames by pouring water before emergency teams arrived. Multiple fire tenders and police teams were later deployed to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby units.

No casualties were reported till the filing of this report, though authorities fear heavy losses to property and stored material.

Preliminary information suggests the warehouse had remained shut for several days. Vipin, brother of owner Shiv Shankar, said the unit was closed, workers were on leave and even the electricity supply had been disconnected. “We do not know how the fire started as the warehouse was locked from outside and nobody was present inside,” he said.

The incident has once again raised questions over fire safety compliance and the operation of allegedly unregistered industrial units in Gurugram’s rapidly expanding urban villages and warehouse clusters.