Part of a chemical production plant on the outskirts of the city of Vadodara in Gujarat was engulfed in a large fire on Thursday night. Seven workers have been hospitalized after inhaling smoke, while about 700 people living near the factory have been relocated to safer places.
The district collector said the cause of the fire at Deepak Nitrite’s chemical production facility, which is located in the Nandesari industrial area on the outskirts of Vadodara, is not yet known.
As many as 17 firefighters immediately reached the scene to extinguish the flames and rescued those trapped in the facility. No injuries have been reported so far.
According to fire officials, as many as 17 firefighters, including from the GSFC fire station, were rushed to the scene along with the Quick Response Center from Jarod to bring the fire under control, which has engulfed much of the premises.
Parth Brahmabhatt, Chief Fire Officer, Vadodara Fire and Emergency Services (VFES) of Vadodara Municipal Corporation, said: “We have brought 80% of the fire under control. We have 17 firefighters in operation. It can take a whole night to clear the impact areas. “We expect to completely extinguish the fire and clean the floors of the facility tomorrow morning. We are unable to confirm any casualties or how the fire started at this time.”
Brahmabhatt added that the fire has been classified as a “major call” and people near the factory are advised to stay at a safe distance as the factory has a “large amount of flammable chemical”.
