2 hosiery units gutted in Ludhiana

Nikhil Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, June 14

A major fire broke out in two three-storeyed garment manufacturing units in New Lajpat Nagar, Noorwala road, on wee hours of Friday, damaging goods and machinery worth several lakhs. However, no casualty was reported.

The building of a third hosiery unit adjoining to these factories also developed huge cracks due to a sudden explosion and intense heat.

The incident has once again brought to the fore illegalities involved in constructing these factories as no norms have been followed. There were no fire safety arrangements in place. In fact, these units had no fire safety certificates.

As per information, fire broke out at Vinayak Fabrics around 3 am on Friday when labourers were doing their work. Though the exact cause of the fire was yet to be known, it was learnt that it started due to some sparking in a running machine.

Some workers managed to escape while one of them who got stuck on the second floor of the factory had to jump. He suffered a leg injury.

Giving details, Bhupinder Sandhu, assistant divisional fire officer, said after the fire started in Vinayak Fabrics, there was a sudden blast reportedly in a compressor following which the flames got intense and the stock kept in and outside the factory got destroyed. “Soon, the windowpanes of the adjoining hosiery, AK Sanan Knitwears, broke down due to blaze, burning the huge stock of finished goods and yarn lying there. In no time, fire engulfed the three-storey hosiery unit.”

Around 4 am, fire tenders reached the spot and started the rescue operation. Since the two hosieries were completely gutted, the building of another adjoining factory JS Doaba developed huge cracks due to the intense heat but fire could not enter the unit. However, the probability of building collapse still exists.

Rajrani, a local, said when the fire started, some labourers went knocking on doors of to enquire about the toll-free number of the fire station. Meanwhile, the owner of one of the hosieries went to the fire station and informed them about the incident. Notably, Dera Sacha Saudan followers and Green Welfare Force, Sirsa, volunteers also helped in the rescue operation.

Atish Rai, sub-fire officer at Sundar Nagar fire station, said the blaze was almost doused at 11.30 am, but it again erupted later. “It was completely doused after more than 17 hours at 8 pm.”

A fire tender has been stationed at the spot to tackle any emergency. Also, some of the other adjoining factories shifted their raw and finished stock to safer places.

5TH SUCH MISHAP IN OVER A MONTH  

• June 7: At Deewan Knitwears, Seeda village 
• June 1: At a godown of Fastway Transmission in Gill village 
• May 21: At a garbage dump on Tajpur Road
• May 7: At a chemical trading unit in Durga colony, Focal Point

CRACKS IN ADJOINING BUILDING

The building of another factory JS Doaba, adjoining to the units destroyed in fire, developed huge cracks due to a sudden explosion and intense heat but the blaze could not enter the unit. However, the probability of building collapse still exists.