Fire at BCL Distillery Unit in Bathinda
A significant fire incident occurred at the distillery unit of BCL Industries Limited in Machhana village, located on the Bathinda-Dabwali road, on Friday morning. The blaze erupted in an ethanol storage tank, leading to a massive firefighting operation. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported.
Incident Details
The fire reportedly started around 9 am and quickly engulfed the entire ethanol storage tank. Some local residents claimed to have heard a powerful explosion, with the sound audible in nearby villages. Upon receiving the alert, the civil administration and police responded promptly, with senior officials arriving at the scene to oversee the situation.
Firefighting Efforts
Initially, the distillery's in-house firefighting team, supported by two fire tenders, attempted to control the fire. However, due to the intensity of the blaze, assistance was sought from multiple agencies. These included the Bathinda Municipal Corporation's Fire Department, the HMEL refinery at Rama, the Bhisiana Air Force Station, and nearby industrial units. A total of nearly 18 fire tenders from various locations were deployed. After several hours of intensive efforts, the fire was brought under control.
Investigation and Loss Assessment
Senior officials of BCL Industries stated that the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. A specialized technical team has been assigned to investigate the incident. The affected ethanol tank had a storage capacity of several hundred thousand liters, which made the fire difficult to contain. Despite these challenges, coordinated firefighting efforts prevented the fire from spreading further.
A police officer confirmed that there was no loss of life, but significant financial losses are suspected. The extent of the damage and the cause of the fire are currently under investigation.
