Massive fire at fabrication factory: Slum evacuated, CISF, 40 fire engines called in

Bhopal: A massive blaze broke out at a fabrication factory in Kasturba Nagar opposite Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT), around 3:30 pm here on Sunday. The towering flames and thick smoke triggered panic across the area, with the smoke plume visible from kilometers away and lingering in the sky for over three hours.For safety, the nearby Lal Bahadur Ahir slum was evacuated, with families moving their belongings into the streets. Ambulances, police, and municipal officials remained on-site to manage the situation. Bhopal Municipal Corporation Fire Control quickly mobilized multiple fire stations, dispatching engines to the site. Although more than a dozen engines initially attempted to contain the fire, the large stock of wood, chemicals, and plastic fueled its rapid spread.Fire Officer Saurabh Kumar Patel confirmed that the cause remains unknown, but preliminary findings suggest the furniture warehouse within the complex intensified the blaze.As conditions worsened, BHEL's CISF fire team joined the effort. Bulldozers were used to break through the factory walls, allowing water to reach inside.Eventually, over 40 fire engines from across the city were deployed. After nearly six hours of relentless firefighting, the flames were subdued, though smoke continued to rise late into the night. No casualties were reported, but most of the stored goods were destroyed, and the extent of damage is still being assessed.