Massive fire breaks out at bitumen factory in Urla

 

 A devastating fire broke out early Saturday morning at Balaji Carbon and Refractories Pvt Ltd, a bitumen manufacturing unit located in Raipur’s Borjhara locality under Urla police station limits. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a massive plume of black smoke billowing from the site as flames rapidly consumed large sections of the facility. “This was a high-intensity blaze fuelled by industrial-grade flammable materials stored within the plant,” confirmed officers from Urla police station while speaking to The Hitavada.

 

“Fire and rescue teams, including those from Bajrang Power & Ispat Ltd, were pressed into service immediately to control the situation.” Officials from the Raipur Fire Brigade Department added, “Multiple units were dispatched on priority, and coordinated efforts are ongoing to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent installations.

 

So far, no casualties have been reported.” Local panic escalated as thick smoke blanketed parts of the industrial belt. The police and fire personnel swiftly evacuated the plant and issued an alert in neighbouring areas. “We ensured that all workers were cleared from the premises and nearby zones were cordoned off as a safety protocol,” said Urla police. Though the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, preliminary reports suggest the presence of highly combustible materials may have accelerated the inferno. Authorities estimate property damage to be in crores, though precise figures are awaited.

 

Senior fire officials stated that residual hotspots were being doused, and a forensic assessment will be initiated once the area is deemed safe. “Our priority is containment, followed by a detailed cause analysis,” a fire control officer remarked. The Raipur district administration has ordered a comprehensive probe into the incident. No injuries have been reported as of filing this report.