Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, June 11: Two factories were extensively damaged in two separate devastating fire incidents which engulfed them here tonight.
According to reports the two factories suffered a loss of crores of rupees in the devastating fire.
Reports said the entire cotton godown and machinery of Chenab Textile Kathua was damaged in a devastating fire tonight which was caused due to short circuit in a machine.
Five fire tenders were pressed into service to dose the blaze but till last reports came they failed to bring the fire under control as the flames were touching the sky. It will take four to five hours more to control the fire completely, reports said.
Reports said that over 2000 labourers were inside the factory during the time of fire but they all were rescued to safer places and there was no loss of life.
Over 150 policemen and a large number of Fire Services jawans were pressed into service for fire fighting operation. Besides, the fire tenders from Kathua and Hiranagar, fire tender of army and police tankers were also engaged for fire fighting operation. But till last reports came they were unable to control the fire.
Panic gripped entire area after the news spread and people of adjoining areas also rushed towards the area to assist police and fire service jawans in fire fighting operation.
In another fire incident in the same area earlier the United Bat Factory was completely gutted in fire which was caused due to sparking of LT Line passing over the Industrial area in the town.
According to sources a truck bearing number JK08A-5481 which was parked in the factory compound was completely damaged in the devastating fire while 75 percent of factory and bats were also damaged.
Sources said that fire engulfed entire factory area after the sparking in the LT line which was passing over the factory area in the town.
Soon after the news spread, two fire tenders from Kathua rushed to the site and dozed the flames. They managed to control the fire from spreading to adjoining structures.
According to rough estimates the two factories suffered a loss with crores.
However no loss of life was reported. The Kathua police has registered a case. Reports said that 20 fire incidents in different parts of the district were also reported as people have set grass on fire to clean their fields. The panic spread in these localities as fire also engulfed nearby bushes and trees.
The district administration has asked people to refrain from setting the grass on fire to avert any untoward incident.
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