Tyre Factory Fire Kills 2 in UP: Investigation Underway
Tyre Factory Fire Kills 2 in UP: Investigation Underway
Tragic fire at a Kanpur Dehat tyre oil factory claims two lives. Workers reportedly fell from a 30-ft tank as flames engulfed the facility. Investigation launched into the cause, with claims of safety breaches emerging.
A devastating fire at a tyre oil factory in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur Dehat district on Monday evening has claimed the lives of two workers. The incident occurred at the Om JVRD factory near Jariha village in Gajner, approximately 44 km from the district headquarters.
Officials reported that the two deceased workers were on a tank nearly 30-feet high when the blaze erupted. Trapped by the rapidly spreading flames, they tragically fell to the ground. Four other workers and the driver of a tanker, which was used for extracted oil, managed to escape the inferno.
The factory, which has been operational for about five years, specializes in producing tyre oil by processing discarded tyres at high temperatures in an oxygen-free chamber.
The fire broke out around 5:30 pm while six workers were engaged in loading tyres into a tank.
The intensity of the fire was such that thick plumes of black smoke were visible from almost 2 km away, painting a grim picture in the sky.
Chief Fire Officer Prateek Srivastava confirmed receiving information about the fire around 5:50 pm. Three fire tenders from the Mati fire station were immediately dispatched, with three more called in later due to the severity of the situation. Efforts focused on cooling an adjoining oil tank and using foam to extinguish the main blaze.
The fire was brought under control within approximately 40 minutes.
Superintendent of Police Shraddha Narendra Pandey stated that the identities of the deceased workers are yet to be confirmed. Senior police officials, including Additional SP Alok Prasad and Circle Officer Sanjay Singh, visited the factory to assess the situation and initiate investigations.
In a significant development, factory owner Ramesh Chandra Gupta has alleged to the police that workers had previously been found carrying bidis (traditional Indian cigarettes) into the storage area. He suggested that some workers might have carried bidis inside again on Monday, potentially triggering the fire.
Police are currently investigating this claim and working to determine the precise cause of the deadly blaze.
This incident highlights critical industrial safety concerns.
