Baddi pharma unit gutted, no casualties reported

A pharmaceutical unit, Amster Labs Limited, near Baddi barrier, suffered major losses after a massive fire broke out on its premises last night around 1.00 am.

Even though there were 16 employees inside the building when the fire erupted on the third floor, no lives were lost.

The blaze was triggered by a sudden blast in the tablet section on the third floor. Three employees narrowly escaped by climbing down using iron grills outside the floor. They sustained minor injuries while hastily evacuating the area. The remaining employees managed to exit safely after hearing the explosion.

The fire rapidly engulfed raw materials, finished goods and machinery on the third floor, fuelled by the inflammable nature of the materials. Thick plumes of black smoke billowed from the premises, causing panic among nearby residents as the smoke was visible from a considerable distance.

As many as 17 firemen and five fire tenders rushed to the scene upon receiving the alert. It took over 12 hours to bring the blaze under control due to the flammable materials.

Santosh Sharma, Commandant of Home Guards, Solan, confirmed that the fire was fully controlled by 1:50 pm on Friday.