A massive fire broke out at Shreyans Fabrics, a multi-storey textile manufacturing unit located in Kailash Nagar, Sherpur, Ludhiana, on Wednesday night. The blaze consumed a vast quantity of raw and finished stock, along with machinery, causing extensive damage. Workers who were inside the unit at the time managed to escape unharmed and initially attempted to douse the flames themselves, but the fire quickly grew uncontrollable.
Fire Spread Rapidly from Upper Floor
According to Fire Officer Aatish Rai, who led the operation, the fire originated on an upper floor and engulfed the entire unit within an hour. Factory employees and the owner tried to control the blaze but failed, prompting them to alert the fire brigade. Fire tenders arrived at the scene around 12:10 am, within minutes of the call.
Rai stated, “Since the entire unit was under flames and even the main entrance was blocked, firemen had to use a ladder to reach the first floor. Grills of the basement were also broken to control the situation. As many as 175 fire tenders were used to control the situation in 18 hours of continuous operation.”
Stock and Machinery Destroyed
The unit housed a large quantity of both raw and finished textile stock, as well as machinery, all of which were gutted in the fire. Workers managed to shift some stock to a safe location, but a significant amount stored in the basement was reduced to ashes. The exact financial loss has not yet been ascertained.
Suspected Short-Circuit but Cause Not Confirmed
Fire officials said the cause of the fire could not be established immediately, though a short-circuit is suspected. Sources indicated that the factory had fire safety arrangements in place, and workers used fire extinguishers, but the fire intensified rapidly and spread throughout the unit before it could be contained.
Nearby Factories at Risk but Saved
Several other factories located in Kailash Nagar, particularly those adjacent to Shreyans Fabrics, faced the risk of being affected by the spreading fire. However, firefighters managed to control the blaze in time, preventing it from spreading to neighboring units.
Hi-Tech Thermal Imaging Cameras Deployed
Firefighters utilized hand-held hi-tech thermal imaging cameras to assist in the operation. These cameras can see through smoke even in darkness and help locate trapped persons. The water-resistant cameras have a range of 30 metres and can monitor the blaze while differentiating areas with high or low heat, aiding in strategic firefighting efforts.
