Fire at pharmaceutical unit in Gzb, no casualty

A fire engulfed the premises of a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit on south side GT Road industrial area on Tuesday morning. It took more than four hours and over a dozen water tankers to douse the fire.

A fire engulfed the premises of a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit on south side GT Road industrial area on Tuesday morning. It took more than four hours and over a dozen water tankers to douse the fire.

A fire was reported at Sara Exports unit, engaged in basic drug manufacturing, around 10am. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

According to fire department officials, a fire was reported at Sara Exports unit, engaged in basic drug manufacturing, around 10am. A majority of the stock, chemicals and other equipment got damaged in the fire, officials said.

“The fire was raging and the billowing smoke could be seen from several kilometres away, over the highway. We roped in 12-13 fire tenders from Ghaziabad, Sahibabad, Noida, Modi Nagar and Vaishali and could control the fire only after 4-5 hours. Two of our firemen sustained injuries from a splash of chemicals inside the unit. They were rushed to a hospital and discharged after medical aid,” Ram Kishor Yadav, fire safety officer of Ghaziabad, said.

“The fire could not be controlled easily due to the stock and inflammable chemicals. Major damage to the unit has been reported but the losses are yet to be assessed. Prima facie, the cause of fire could be a short circuit or a chemical reaction,” Yadav said.

“The loss and cause of fire could not be ascertained immediately. By the time the fire raged to larger proportions, workers in the unit had come out. No loss of life or injury was reported,” Akshay Ranjan Sharma, chief fire officer, Ghaziabad, said.

Officials said that they will also check if the fire safety measures installed at the premises were functional.

“The fire started from the godown and spread to other parts. The fire (department) and administration provided timely support. The unit prepares salts used in paracetamol,” Hariom Chauhan, president of south side GT Road industrial area, said.