An explosion and subsequent fire at IOL Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd in Fatehgarh Channa village, Barnala, late on Tuesday night could have led to a major disaster, but no casualties were reported. The incident occurred around 10 pm in Unit 9 of the plant, where three workers were on duty at the time.
Cause of the Explosion
According to Basant Singh, a senior factory official, a sudden rise in temperature within a large chemical storage tank triggered the explosion. The blast was so intense that the sound was heard in several nearby villages, causing alarm among residents.
Swift Response and Safety Measures
The factory's fire safety systems functioned effectively, helping to bring the situation under control quickly and minimising property damage. Following the incident, Deputy Commissioner Harpreet Singh and SSP Mohammad Sarfaraz Alam, along with officials from various departments, visited the site. They inspected the affected unit and reviewed the overall safety arrangements.
The SSP stated that emergency teams responded promptly after receiving information about the fire. "The fire was brought under control within a short time, and fortunately no loss of life was reported," he said.
Previous Incident
Notably, this is not the first such occurrence at the facility. An explosion had also taken place on the factory premises last month, raising concerns about safety protocols.
Authorities are investigating the latest incident to prevent future occurrences. The company has assured full cooperation with the investigation.
