Big Fire at Illegal Plastic Factory in Gwalior, No Casualties Reported

A large fire broke out at an illegal plastic factory in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, early Wednesday morning. The factory was located in a residential area in Gadhaipura locality under the jurisdiction of the Hazira police station.

Firefighting Efforts

According to Atibal Singh Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of the Gwalior Municipal Corporation, a total of 32 fire tenders were engaged to extinguish the fire. Yadav stated, “Upon receiving information about the fire on Wednesday morning, we immediately dispatched the fire tenders to the spot. About 32 vehicles were engaged in extinguishing the fire, and it is now under control.”

Impact on Residents

Due to its location in a residential area, the factory was operating illegally without permission. Nearby residents also suffered as the fire spread to their houses, filling them with smoke. They were rescued by breaking windows. Yadav added, “If this had happened around midnight, it is quite possible that the residents could have fainted, leading to a major accident.”

Legal and Safety Concerns

The factory stored raw materials for plastic production, and plastic brought in by scrap dealers was kept in the warehouse. Money kept in the factory’s cash box was also burnt. Since the factory is illegal, it is possible that it does not even have a license. Yadav mentioned, “Whatever legal action is required will be taken. As of now, there is no loss of life, only damage to goods.”

Investigation

Preliminary investigations revealed that the area where the fire started did not have an electricity connection, ruling out an electrical spark as the cause. It is suspected that five employees who were sleeping inside might have smoked and discarded cigarette butts, causing the fire to break out gradually. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.