Over 50 fire incidents in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad on Diwali

Around 50 incidents of fire were reported across Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad on Diwali. A printing factory in Site 4 of Greater Noida caught fire, which could be put off only after seven hours.

Around 50 incidents of fire were reported across Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad on Diwali. A printing factory in Site 4 of Greater Noida caught fire, which could be put off only after seven hours.

Twenty-one incidents of fire were reported in Ghaziabad. (Sakib Ali/HT photo)

“On Wednesday afternoon, a major fire broke out at a printing factory in site 4. It took more than seven hours to extinguish the fire. The dense smoke from the ink and inflammable chemicals in the factory caused breathlessness,” said Matloob Hasan, fire station officer, Greater Noida.

Fourteen incidents of fire were reported to the Noida Phase 1 fire station. “Crackers, scrap and garbage dumped at vacant plots had caught fire. However, no major fire was reported,” said Sushil Kumar Yadav, fire station officer, Noida Phase 1.

A tent house in Sorkha village was also gutted. “A burning rocket fell on the tent house and the wooden material. The cloth caught fire and destroyed the tent. Beside this, two minor fire incidents were reported from the nearby villages,” said Sanjiv Kumar Yadav, fire station officer from Noida Phase 2.

In Ghaziabad, 21 incidents of fire were reported on Diwali. In a major incident, timber and plywood stored at a warehouse caught fire as a cracker fell inside.

“Some residents saw smoke and called the police. Later, fire tenders came to the spot but the fire could not be doused till 1pm,” said Vinod Kumar, who owns the warehouse.

At least 10 fire tenders, including two from Noida, were roped in to control the fire. The fire could have engulfed nearby offices and residential areas on the GT Road.

Sitaram, a small vendor who ferries electronic items for dealers, lost washing machines and television sets to a fire caused at the storage facility in his house.

“A cracker triggered a fire in the area where the gadgets were stored. They were to be delivered the next day. I and my children tried hard to douse the fire but three washing machines and two television were destroyed. It will take me months of hard work to repay for the lost items now,” he said.

“Nine incidents of fire were reported at the Vaishali fire station, one at Loni, five at Modi Nagar and six at the Ghanta Ghar fire station. However, no lives were lost or injuries were reported,” said Akshay Ranjan Sharma, chief fire officer, Ghaziabad.