Inferno plays out in New Lajpat Nagar

Ludhiana: A massive fire reduced two hosiery units to ashes and damaged two others in New Lajpat Nagar on Noorwala Road early on Friday.

The blaze started from two-storey Vinayak Fabrics around 2.45am. As workers rushed out, one of them jumped from the unit’s second floor and received minor injuries on his leg. The workers first tried to control the fire, but when it sprawled they called up the fire department.

“We kept on dialling the fire department number, but nobody took the call. After sometime, the unit owner along with some employees went to the department’s office,” said a worker. Denying the allegations, a fireman said, “When the unit owner reached our office, he told us that he did not know the department’s phone number and so he came here. We immediately left with him for the spot around 3.58am. A tender from Sunder Nagar fire station reached there at 4.03am.”

But by that time, the blaze had spread further. After engulfing raw material kept outside the building, the flames enveloped an adjoining four-storey unit — AK Sanon Knitwear.

Though its cause is not clear, Vinayak Fabrics workers claimed that a blast in a compressor triggered the fire. As another blast rocked the unit, two neighbouring hosiery factories developed cracks.

Station fire officer SN Sharma said, “When we reached the spot, the fire had engulfed both the factories. Winds had fanned the flames to AK Sanon Knitwear.”

Paramjit Saini, an eyewitness, said, “We were standing outside our house due to an unscheduled power cut. Electricity department employees were fixing a fault when a group of men came running to us around 2.45am. They said a major fire had broken out at Vinayak Fabrics and that they escaped it. When our neighbours too came out on hearing their cries, we heard a blast. We rushed to Vinayak Fabrics and saw huge stock of yarn and raw material in flames.”

A unit employee said, “The son of unit owner Rajan Vinayak had got married just two weeks ago. Rajan, a heart patient, was taken to a hospital after the incident.”

Volunteers of Green Welfare Force, associated with Dera Sacha Sauda, helped the fire department in the operation. Raj Singh, who led a team of 50 to 60 volunteers, said, “We are trained to handle such situations. We are not only helping firemen douse the blaze, but also aiding residents in bringing out their belongings.”

Sub-fire officer Atish Rai said, “Fire tenders were called back at 8.30pm. One tender was stationed at the spot. We took over 17 hours to bring the situation under control.”

Factories lack fire-safety measures

Assistant divisional fire officer Bhupinder Sandhu said, “Both the factories lacked fire-safety as well as water arrangements. We had to refill fire tenders from Chand Cinema tube-well, Sunder Nagar fire station and other locations.”

Tenders make over 200 rounds

Fire tenders from Ludhiana, Jagraon, Samrala, Phagwara as well as private ones from Vardhman Mill were pressed into service. “The tenders made over 200 rounds to bring the situation under control,” said a fireman.

Recent incidents

June 8: A fire breaks out at a cycle seat manufacturing unit on Gill Road

June 7: Blaze engulfs Dewan Knitwear on Seera village road

May 28: A major fire at a shawl manufacturing unit in Hargobindpura

May 23: Flames engulf Sanjeev Fabrics on Bahadur K road

May 21: Massive fire at Tajpur Road garbage dump

May 7: A fire breaks out at Parkash Chemicals in Focal Point

May 5: Blaze envelops a garment unit on Kakowal Road

April 8: NS enterprises on Chandigarh Road goes up in flames