Ludhiana garment unit fire kills three workers

Three labourers were charred to death in a fire that broke out in a garment factory on Bajra road in Meharban area here on Saturday. Five fire tenders of the Ludhiana municipal corporation took more than four hours to control the flames, said officials.

“The three bodies found inside the factory were charred beyond identification. They are believed to be that of labourers of the factory,” said an official.

The reason behind the fire was yet to be ascertained.

After the incident, labour union members staged a protest, demanding arrest of the factory owner. Police had to resort to cane-charge to disperse protesters. Later, the kin of the deceased struck a compromise with the factory owner.

Officials claimed that the factory was without fire-fighting system and there was no emergency exit. The fire broke out around 2 am at the Gyan Chand and Sons hosiery and dying factory where three labors Bunty Jha alias Ashutosh, 28, Bhola Kumar, 20, and Satish Rao, 28,-- all natives of Bihar --- were working. The flames soon engulfed the entire block where the trio was working and they got not time to escape.

Fire officer Krishan Kumar Kakkar said: “The block where the labourers were trapped had no emergency exit. Also, the windows had iron grilles. As a result, the labourers could not come out.”

Karkhana Majdoor Union president Lakhwinder accused the factory owner of negligence.

Vulnerable city

April 30: Fire incidents reported at Chaura Bazar, slums at Jodhewal Basti, Bahadur Ke Road, bus stand and Chhapar village

April 28: – Machhiwara factory goes up in flames

April 26: Ladhowal forest area catches fire

April 25: Fire at Laddowal slums, Hambran Road factory, Dhandari slums, Mullanpur godown, tyre factory at Jugiana

April 19: Blaze at cardboard factory on Gill Road.