Massive fire at shoe factory in Kanpur, fire tenders stranded in narrow lanes

News Topical, Digital Desk : A massive fire broke out at a shoe factory (HS International) in Wajidpur, Jajmau, on Tuesday night. Guards ran out screaming and alerted the police and fire brigade. Seven fire engines from Jajmau, Kidwai Nagar, Latouche Road, Fazalganj, and Mirpur fire stations arrived to control the blaze but were trapped in the narrow streets.

Attempts were made to control the fire by extending the length of the hose pipe. After about four hours of effort, firefighters extinguished the flames. The factory owner has estimated the damage at 4 crore rupees. Preliminary investigations indicate the fire was caused by a short circuit.

Naushad Ahmed, a resident of Emerald Gulistan in JK Colony, Jajmau, owns a shoe factory called HS International in Wajidpur. The factory employs approximately 500 people. Housed in a three-story building, shoe cutting is done on the ground floor. Shoe soling, finishing, and packing are done on the first floor, with a lab and spray department above.

A massive fire broke out in the factory late on Tuesday night. The biggest damage was caused to the upper finishing plant installed a week ago, the estimated cost of which is said to be more than two crore rupees. On receiving information about the fire in the tannery, seven fire engines from Jajmau, Mirpur, Kidwai Nagar, Fazalganj and Panki reached the spot. The vehicles could not reach the factory due to being stuck in the narrow streets. On this, water was sprayed by increasing the length of the pipe. The fire could be controlled after about four hours.

The workers had left an hour earlier, otherwise a major accident could have occurred.

According to Jajmau Fire Station Officer Rahul Nandan, there were no casualties in the incident. People present at the scene said that the company closes around 7 p.m., and it takes about half an hour for everyone to leave. The fire broke out after 8 p.m. If it had started earlier, it could have been a major disaster.

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