Fire destroys chemical factory

Bengaluru: A fire blazed up three-story building in DJ Halli’s Sugar Mandi, East Bengaluru, on Monday evening.

Developed on a 20×40 plot, the building was loaded with barrels and compartments of acetone, polish, varnish and glues utilized as a part of the furniture manufacture, a neighbourhood inhabitant said.

Twelve fire tenders are grinding away to drench the fire that broke out around 6 pm and kept on blazing even after 11.30 pm. The second floor and a shed on the porch are burnt down. Since the area is densely populated and the streets are narrow, fire fighting from the contiguous structures was a difficult task.

Fire authorities have cleared nearby inhabitants and are drilling holes in the contiguous structures to get access to the burning building.  Fire fighters have not found any casualties yet.

The reason for the fire is unknown. However firefighters speculate a short circuit.

A neighbourhood occupant said the building housed a furniture manufacture unit where a few people worked. The factory closes by 6 pm and everyone in the factory leave.

Nearby BBMP authorities and the police are investigating the factory’s trade permit and registration certificates and whether the building proprietor complied with fire safety measures.