Fire breaks out at chemical factory in Medchal

Hyderabad: A major fire broke out at the Org Chem chemical factory in Medchal on the outskirts of the city late on Tuesday, triggering panic in the industrial area. However, officials confirmed that no injuries or casualties were reported in the incident.

According to fire department officials, a distress call was received at around 11.45 pm, following which firefighters from the Shamirpet fire station rushed to the spot. The teams battled the blaze for nearly four hours before bringing it under control with support from the Genome Valley fire station.

Shamirpet station fire officer (SFO) Shiva Kumar said only a chemist and four security guards were present at the factory when the fire erupted. “Nobody was trapped inside, and all of them managed to step out safely,” he said. He further stated that the fire originated in the factory’s storage unit and rapidly intensified after methanol stored on the premises fuelled the flames. Preliminary suspicion points to a possible short circuit, though the exact cause is yet to be ascertained.

“The first floor of the building suffered around 30% damage in the incident. Thick smoke had engulfed the upper floors, forcing firefighters to break open glass doors to gain access and prevent the flames from spreading further,” the SFO said. Authorities added that the estimated property loss is yet to be assessed. Further investigation into the incident is underway.