Fire breaks out at Panipat blanket manufacturing unit

A major fire broke out in a blanket manufacturing factory in Gopal Colony here on Sunday. Fourteen fire tenders and four foam tenders from Panipat, Samalkha, Gannaur, NFL and Karnal were pressed into the service as the blaze was brought under control in five hours.

As per information, the fire broke out in the Dream Furnishing, a blanket manufacturing unit near Kabri Pacca Phatak. Workers alerted the factory owner after they saw black smoke emerging from the first floor of the factory. The factory owner called up the fire brigade. The flames spread quickly as a highly inflammable polyester is used in manufacturing blankets and other goods.

Fire officer Amit Kumar said the fire was so huge that all manufactured products – blankets, raw material and machinery got engulfed in it.

Fourteen fire tenders, including eight from Panipat, and four foam tenders were pressed into the service to douse the flames. It took over five hours to put out the blaze, he said.

Streets leading to the factory were very congested due to which the fire tenders faced great difficulty in reaching the spot, he said. Around 60 firefighters stopped the fire from spreading from first floor to ground floor and neighbouring units. A big loss of property was averted, he claimed.

Factory owner Paras Makkar said the fire brigade controlled the blaze on time, but it had already caused a big damage.

Makkar said the godown on the first floor where acrylic blankets and machines, various types of fabrics, winder machines, electric machines and several goods related to machines were engulfed in flames. However, no loss of life was reported.