November has proved a bad month for Ludhiana as fire mishaps were unusually high with at least two major incidents inside a week. A polymer factory in Mushtaqganj was gutted and collapsed due to the conflagration on 20th November claiming many lives and the police swung into action and arrested the owner. As per preliminary probe, Amarson Polymers, located in the industrial area, was originally a two-storey building at Mushtaq Ganj of Ludhiana, which was later raised to five floors. Ludhiana Municipal Commissioner has so far failed to find any records of the additional floors.Inderjit Singh Gola, owner of Amarson Polymers reportedly told the police that the stock register having details of the chemicals stored in the factory was burnt in the fire. He however, admitted that at least two chemicals, thinner and butanol, which are extensively used in the plastic-based units, was stored inside in huge quantities.
Meanwhile, a local court of Ludhiana Friday extended the police remand of Gola for two days. In a related development, public prosecutor Jatinder Chahal was issued a show-cause notice Friday for absenting himself from court proceedings on Thursday, Ravinder Abrol, district attorney (prosecution), said.
Rescue work continued at the site for the fifth day as the teams tried locating the bodies of three missing firemen, Manohar Lal, Manpreet and Sukhdev. A team from Forensic Science Laboratory, Mohali, collected samples of the debris from the site. A team from Punjab Pollution Control Board also collected the samples for probe.
Bhupinder Singh, assistant divisional fire officer, said not more than 25% of the rubble was left at the site. “We are trying our best to locate the three men,” he said.
But rescue workers said the toughest part of the entire structure had been touched now. “The way this building has been constructed is a complete disaster. The iron rods are thicker than the ones used normally. There are only beams, but no pillars. Had there been more pillars, building would not have collapsed or even if it had, casualties would have been lesser. We have now reached the extreme end where chemical drums were stored. Thus, teams are facing difficulty as the chemicals are still burning and causing breathing problems,” said a team member.
Fire broke out at the Amarson Polymers factory near the Suffiana Chowk of Ludhiana early Monday morning. The building collapsed four hours later when the firemen were putting off the fire with the help of pressurised water hose
Five persons died and at least 20 were feared trapped under the debris after a factory building collapsed due to a major fire at its premises at Ludhiana's Mushtaq Ganj near Suffiana Chowk Monday, 20th November. At around 8 am, fire engulfed Amarson Polymers, which is owned by Inderjit Singh Gola and manufactures polythene bags, polyester pouches. Amarson Polymers is also a local supplier of chemicals.
The majority of the men were fire officers who were trying to set off the fire in the Ludhiana building. The witnesses claim they heard a loud explosion after the majority of fire was already set off which led to the building being collapsed. Sources hint at a explosive chemical being present in the plastic factory of Ludhiana.
The following officials of fire brigade wew brunt to death
1. Samson Gill. Sub Officer.
2. Rajinder Sharma sub Officer.
3. Raj Kumar Sub Officer.
4. Ma nohar Lal LFM
5. Puran Singh LFM
6. Rajan Singh FM
7. Vishal FM
8. Manpreet Singh FM
9. Sukhdev Singh FM
In addition ten more persons were burn to death in this fire, the entire building of five story was collapsed. Property worth crores of rupees was burnt and collapsed. Chief Minister along with Minister Local Govt Punjab visited the site and announced compensation to the next of the kin. He also announced to update the Fire Service NDRF Police and NGO helped in rescue.
