Fire engulfs starch glue manufacturing unit

Salem: Materials worth Rs 15 lakh was gutted after a starch glue manufacturing unit caught fire at Shevapet here on Saturday.

The unit owner, S Rajaganapathy, 38, of Azhagapuram, was informed about the incident around 4.30am by a person living near the unit through a phone call.

While on his way to the unit, Rajaganapathy alerted fire and rescue service personnel at Shevapet.

The fire department deployed three fire tenders. The rescue personnel put out the fire after a four-hour struggle.

After the preliminary investigation, a fire official said the fire could have happened after current leakage. “A live wire connected to a boiler was worn out. Current could have leaked from the wire and led to the fire,” the official said

Starch bags, boilers and machines kept in the unit were damaged in the incident.

The Shevapet police registered a case and further inquiry is on.