Fire engulfs rubber processing unit at Basistha; short circuit suspected

Guwahati: A fire broke out at a rubber processing unit in the Patarkuchi area of Basistha on Sunday morning, prompting a large-scale firefighting operation.“The fire call was received at 6.29am by the Dispur Fire and Emergency Service station, following which the fire tender was dispatched within two minutes. A second unit was mobilised shortly thereafter at 6.40am as the intensity of the blaze became apparent, which was suspected to be caused due to a faulty circuit,” a SDRF official said.The official said the fire occurred at KP Rubbers, a godown-cum-processing facility spread over approximately 3,500 square metres. The structure, built with concrete walls and topped with a GI sheet roof, housed significant quantities of raw rubber along with machinery and other flammable materials that contributed to the spread of fire. The property was rented by Pintu Chacko, a Kerala resident, while it belonged to Ramesh Jaishwal of Kindul Nagar in Beltola.Officials have estimated the value of the total property at Rs 10 lakh, with approximately Rs 7 lakh worth of damages incurred, while assets worth Rs 3 lakh were successfully salvaged.Firefighters from multiple stations, including Dispur, Lokhara, Chandmari, Pandu, and Guwahati, were deployed. A total of eight water tenders and a water bowser were used to control the flames. The coordinated effort lasted for nearly three hours.