A massive fire erupted at a heavy machinery dealership's workshop in Bhankrota, Jaipur, on Monday evening, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky and triggering a major emergency response near a busy fuel pump on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway.
Swift Evacuation Prevents Loss of Life
The incident, first reported around 5:30 PM, saw approximately 80 technicians and employees inside the premises of Rajesh Motor's workshop. As flames rapidly spread and smoke engulfed the area, workers were forced to abandon their stations and flee. Police confirmed that the swift evacuation of all personnel was a critical factor in averting a human tragedy.
"Employees initially tried to control the fire with portable fire safety equipment, but the blaze intensified within minutes, forcing a complete evacuation," a senior police officer stated. The thick black smoke from the burning workshop was visible from a distance of nearly three kilometres.
Three-Hour Battle to Contain the Inferno
Emergency services faced a daunting challenge. A total of 15 fire tenders were deployed to battle the intense flames for over three hours. Authorities cordoned off the area and cut the power supply to facilitate firefighting operations.
Hanuman Prasad Meena, DCP (West), Jaipur, explained, "Sustained firefighting measures were undertaken considering the severity of the fire and the risk it posed to nearby structures." To gain better access, portions of the workshop's boundary wall had to be demolished. Traffic on one lane of the busy highway was temporarily halted to allow smooth movement for emergency vehicles.
Safety Lapses and Ongoing Investigation
While the main blaze was contained, smaller fires continued to smoulder late into the night. Preliminary investigations point towards the stocks of oil and grease at the workshop as a potential trigger for the fire, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Deputy Commissioner (Fire)–II Monika Soni revealed alarming safety lapses. She stated that around 5,000 litres of oil were stored at the site. "The workshop owner did not have a fire NOC, and fire safety systems at the neighbouring petrol pump were not updated," she added, highlighting significant regulatory failures.
Fortunately, no loss of life or injuries were reported. However, the fire resulted in the complete destruction of 12 heavy earthmovers inside the workshop. The emergency fire safety measures implemented at the adjacent fuel pump were credited with preventing the disaster from escalating into an even greater catastrophe.
