Started 2 months ago, chemical firm gutted in blaze

Fire broke out in a chemical factory in the MIDC industrial area of Navi Mumbai early on Monday. Though there was no loss of life, property worth crores was destroyed.

Fire broke out in a chemical factory in the MIDC industrial area of Navi Mumbai early on Monday. Though there was no loss of life, property worth crores was destroyed.

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Fire broke out at 1.45 am at Quality Chemical Industries. The ground-plus-three-storey building that was inaugurated two months back was completely engulfed.

Prakash More, senior inspector of Turbhe police station, said: “The company had shut at 8.30 pm on Sunday and there was a security guard present. It is not clear what triggered the fire but it did not take long to spread.”

Firemen brought the blaze under control by 5.30 am, but the cooling process went on till afternoon.

Ten fire engines were pressed into service from the MIDC, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s Airoli, Vashi and CBD Belapur fire stations, CIDCO’s Kalamboli fire station and even from Thane.

Surendra Choudhary, fire officer, Fire and Emergency Response, MIDC, said, “When we reached the spot, the building was on fire. It had spread to the neighbouring Sainath Printers and a company behind it. We prevented it from causing much damage to them.”

“Property worth crores has been damaged in the fire, the cause of which is yet to be ascertained,” he added.