Man, 15-year-old boy die in chemical factory fire

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, NOV. 12. Two people were killed, and three seriously injured when a major fire broke out in a chemical factory at Arkere in J.P. Nagar police limits on Monday.

The fire broke out at Maa Star Chemical Factory, located at the Syndicate Bank Colony at Arkere, off Bannerghatta Road, around 12.30 p.m. Seven fire tenders were used, and the fire fighters took more than six hours to extinguish the flames.

More than a dozen deafening blasts were heard when chemicals inside the factory caught fire and exploded. Fire balls and flames rose to a height of 100 feet, according to the eyewitnesses and The Hindu photographer who reached the spot even before the fire tenders had arrived.

The intensity of the fire was so high that the residents of the houses nearby felt the heat waves, and rushed out in panic.

According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Mr. T. Suneel Kumar, varnish, thinners, and wood polish were being manufactured at the unit owned by Mr. Bhat. He said the exact cause of fire was yet to be ascertained.

The J.P. Nagar police have registered a case.

Eight employees were at work when the fire broke out. While three of them managed to escape unscathed, three suffered burns, and were rushed to St. John's Hospital.

Rajamma Perumal (45) and Nandeesh Muniswamy (15), who were trapped inside, were charred to death. A senior Fire Service officer told The Hindu that the fire force was not informed of anyone trapped inside. ``During the salvage operations, we found the bodies which were charred beyond recognition,'' he said.

The fire force officers put the loss at Rs. 12 lakhs. Chemicals, benzene, toulene, thinner, and painting material worth about Rs. 5 lakhs were destroyed.

A resident of the Syndicate Bank Colony, Ms. Anuradha Rao, who informed the police and the fire force, said the fire was noticed at around 12.30 p.m.

The residents of the area, who had gathered in large numbers near the factory, questioned how the authorities concerned had given permission for running a chemical factory in a residential area.

One of the residents said that this was second major fire at the factory, and its owner had been given a warning by the fire force officers earlier, for failure to equip the unit with fire- fighting equipment.

The death of Nandeesh has also shown that children are employed in hazardous chemical industries despite the ban. The Labour Commissioner's office is located on Bannerghatta Road, in the vicinity of Maa Star Chemical Factory.

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Section  : Southern States
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