20220724 Fire at factory shed: 2 critical, 6 others injured
India Jul 24 2022 “Building” “Factories”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 1 to 9
Fire at factory shed: 2 critical, 6 others injured
Updated: 2022-07-24
Hubballi: As many as eight workers, including six women, were injured when a fire broke out at a shed belonging to a sparkle candle factory in Tarihal Industrial Area on the outskirts of Hubballi on Saturday. Eyewitnesses said the fire broke out suddenly and spread within a few seconds. “We could see someone caught under fire, but we were helpless as the fire was spreading rapidly,” they added.
They said plastic materials like barrels, buckets, cans, and other flammables caught fire. Nearby residents, especially women, were panicking and shouting for help. The whole area was covered in smoke.
Fire and Emergency Services personnel and police rushed to the spot. They faced hurdles as the fire was thick due to wind and some igniting material was exploding. They could rescue eight people and police sent them to Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) hospital, where sources said the condition of two of them is critical.
Police commissioner Labhu Ram said the injured are Vijayalaxmi, 34, Channavva, 42, Nannima, 35, Prema, 20, Mallik, 18, Maleppa and Gouravva. The identity of another person was not known.
It was a tough time for police to control the people at the spot. MLA Arvind Bellad, police commissioner Labhu Ram, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Sahil Bagla and others visited the spot.
Bellad told reporters that the fire broke out by 4.30pm. “We have learnt the factory was set up just 15 days ago by Shaikh. Sparkle candles used in birthday celebrations are being manufactured here. As soon as they received information, police arranged ambulances while 15 fire vehicles arrived. The rescue team was here within 15 minutes and even police entered the burning shed to rescue the workers,” he said.
“We are told that the factory owner Shaikh, who is absconding now, had not obtained a safety certificate from the fire department. Prima facie, safety measures were neglected here. Police will take a call on such issues during their investigation. We have also instructed doctors in KIMS to take proper care of the injured,” he added.
Web Source: The Times of India