NEW DELHI: A massive fire erupted at the Shri Banke Bihari Chemical Plant on Dujana Road in Greater Noida’s Badalpur area early Sunday morning. The blaze began around 3:00 am, with locals noting an explosion preceding the fire.
Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar states that the factory workers initially attempted to control the fire using on-site equipment but were unsuccessful. Upon evacuating the premises, they alerted the fire department. Approximately two dozen fire tenders were deployed, and after more than seven hours of intense firefighting, the blaze was brought under control. No injuries have been reported, though the factory has suffered significant damage.
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Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Noida) Shakti Mohan Avasthy confirms the absence of casualties and mentions that 32 firefighting vehicles were dispatched to the scene. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities conducting a thorough inquiry into the incident.
This incident follows a recent tragedy in Greater Noida’s Beta 2 locality, where a fire at a sofa manufacturing factory resulted in the deaths of three workers. District magistrate, Manish Kumar Verma, had ordered a detailed investigation into that incident and had directed the formation of a high-level committee to examine safety compliance in industrial units. Verma emphasizes the critical importance of adhering to safety regulations and has initiated a district-wide inspection of factories to verify compliance, particularly concerning valid no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the fire department.
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In light of these events, the district administration is intensifying efforts to enforce safety protocols across all industrial units in the area. Pradeep Kumar, Chief Fire Officer of Gautam Budh Nagar, indicates that weekly drives will be conducted to check compliance, with a primary focus on industrial sectors housing a significant number of such units. Strict action, including immediate closure and prosecution, will be taken against establishments found operating without valid NOCs or violating safety norms.
Authorities are urging all industrial units to adhere strictly to safety regulations to ensure the well-being of workers and the surrounding community.