A DEVASTATING fire broke out at Shree Shyam Chemical Factory in the Heavy Industrial Area of Hathkhoj, Bhilai-3, on Thursday morning, triggering panic in the surrounding areas. The blaze, which reportedly erupted around 11:30 am, engulfed more than 50 drums containing chemicals and two tankers that had arrived at the factory for loading chemicals. A huge column of dense black smoke billowed from the factory and was visible from nearly five kilometers away, raising concern among residents in nearby areas. Firefighters from five agencies were pressed into service and battled the inferno for nearly five hours before bringing it under control. Despite the intensity of the blaze, no casualties or burn injuries were reported.

 

The presence of a large quantity of combustible chemicals made the firefighting operation particularly challenging. The flames repeatedly flared up, prolonging the operation and posing a risk of the fire spreading to adjoining areas. According to preliminary information, welding work was reportedly under way at the factory when sparks may have come into contact with chemicals, triggering the fire. However, the exact cause has not yet been officially established. The possibility of a short circuit or any other cause will be ascertained only after a detailed investigation. Firefighting teams from the Durg Fire Brigade, Raipur, Rajnandgaon, BSP, ACC and other supporting agencies were involved in the operation. A detailed assessment of the property loss and the exact cause of the fire will be carried out by the concerned expert agencies.