3 charred to death, 4 injured in factory fire at MIDC Hingna

Special Correspondent

THREE workers were charred to death and four others injured, three of them seriously, in fire that broke out at Kataria Agro Private Limited’s industrial unit in Sonegaon (Nipani) at MIDC Hingna, on Monday morning. The deceased have been identified as Aadesh Dahiwale (Isasani, Hingna), Hemraj Amro (Wadi) and Anurodh Madavi (Seoni, Madhya Pradesh). Injured Dharmendra Agase, Vikas Madavi and Sarin Madavi were rushed to Lata Mangeshkar Hospital. Fourth injured could not be traced. Bodies of the deceased were sent to the Government Hospital for autopsy. Around 11 am, fire broke out inside the factory where about 20 workers were engaged in their routine task. Within minutes, the inferno engulfed the entire factory and thick smoke and flames started billowing out from the unit. About 14 workers were trapped in the devastating inferno. Three of them were charred to death after a blast that occurred during the fire. Others, somehow, managed to escape but four of them suffered injuries.

Soon after receiving information about the incident, a team of firefighters rushed to the spot. Fire tenders from MIDC Fire Station were pressed into service. Four fire tenders from Fire & Emergency Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation, including a fire browser, also were pressed into service. Firemen from Civil Lines, Sugat Nagar and Ganjipeth Fire Stations also assisted the firefighters in the operation. Staff from MIDC Police Station led by Senior PI Bhima Narke visited the spot when the firefighting operation was on.

After combating the devastating inferno, the firefighters succeeded in dousing the flames completely after more than an hour. Kataria Agro Private Limited whose Managing Director is Dishant Kataria, is considered as one of the largest manufactures of biomass pellets and briquettes across central India. Biomass pellets and briquettes which are carbon neutral fuel are used in industries as a boiler fuel and for electricity generation. The company which also deals in manufacturing renewable energy semiconductors had a production capacity of 150 tonnes pellets and 40 tonnes briquettes per day. Expressing grief over the tragedy, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the injured would get proper treatment and directed the District Collector to immediately look into the matter. Though the District Collector was in Mumbai for a meeting, he was asked to effectively coordinate with the Tehsildar to ensure that the injured victims get proper treatment in the hospital.

When contacted in the evening, Senior Inspector Bhima Narke, In-Charge of MIDC Police Station, told ‘The Hitavada’ that the exact cause behind the fire could not be known so far. The factory owner, too, was hospitalised due to ill health, he added. Meanwhile, MLA Sameer Meghe, who visited the spot, demanded action against the factory owner for not taking any proper safety measures for the workers. Moreover, he alleged that the factory owner had not obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and Sonegaon (Nipani) Gram Panchayat before starting production at the unit.