Date:13/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/13/stories/2006111317050500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Blast in rubber unit leads to fire accident

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: A blast in the processing unit of a rubber factory at Gagan Pahad Industrial Area in Rajendranagar led to a major fire accident on Saturday night.

Twenty workers who were working in the night shift had a miraculous escape.

Five fire tenders from Moghalpura, Malakpet and Gowliguda were rushed to the spot after Fire Services officials received a call at 10.45 p.m. and put off the flames in three hours.

As the blaze sent plumes of black smoke into the sky, fire-fighters used foam mixed with water to bring the fire under control.

No safety system?

District Fire Officer G. Venkata Narayana Rao said the mandatory fire-fighting systems were not installed in Arshita factory.

"Fire could have spread to other manufacturing units if it were not controlled in time," he said.

Reasons behind the accident were yet to be established. While the management kept saying that the fire broke out due to electrical short-circuit, workers were arguing that it occurred due to a blast in one of the machines.