A massive fire erupted in the ethanol storage tank at the extra neutral alcohol (ENA) distillery located in Machhana village, Bathinda, on Friday. The blaze was brought under control after several hours of struggle by more than a dozen fire tenders. The cause of the fire and the extent of the losses are yet to be determined.
Incident Details
The distillery, operated by Bathinda Chemicals Limited (BCL), produces alcohol and ethanol intended for blending with petrol. Flames were first observed emanating from one of the tanks at the distillery and ethanol unit around 9 am. Panic spread among villagers, who feared the fire might spread to nearby areas.
Firefighting Efforts
Initially, two fire tenders from the distillery attempted to control the blaze. When it became uncontrollable, additional tenders were summoned from the Bathinda municipal corporation, Guru Gobind Singh Refinery, Bhisiana Air Force Station, and other industrial units.
Investigation and Safety Measures
A BCL spokesperson stated that a technical team has commenced investigations to ascertain the causes of the fire and to identify corrective measures to prevent future incidents. The team will also assess the financial losses incurred.
H S Sra, DSP Bathinda Rural, confirmed that upon receiving information about the fire, police teams arrived at the scene and coordinated with fire brigade offices from various locations. The fire has been controlled, and no loss of life has been reported. The police are continuing their inquiry into the matter.
