Jodhpur Factory Blast: 14 Firefighters Hurt as Chemical Drums Explode
A fire at a locked handicrafts factory in Jodhpur triggered chemical drum explosions, injuring 14 firefighters, eight of them seriously.
A major fire at a handicrafts factory in Jodhpur left 14 fire department personnel injured, eight of them seriously, after drums of inflammable chemicals stored on the premises exploded repeatedly on Wednesday evening.
The blaze was reported around 5.30 pm at the unit in the Ganesh Nagar area. The factory was locked at the time, but chemicals kept in drums inside caught fire, setting off a series of explosions that hampered firefighting efforts.
Ten fire tenders were rushed from different stations and a team of about 35 fire personnel was deployed. During the operation, a stone is reported to have fallen from the factory roof onto a chemical drum, causing an explosion that left the firefighters with burn injuries.
Jodhpur Municipal Corporation Chief Fire Officer Jalaj Ghasia said the fire broke out at a handicraft factory and that ten fire tenders were immediately pressed into service from various fire stations.
The injured were first taken to AIIMS Jodhpur, where two were discharged after primary treatment. As the institute does not have a dedicated burn unit, the remaining 12 were given initial care and referred to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital.
Police Commissioner Anshuman Bhomia said flammable chemicals and thinner were being used at the factory. Of the 12 referred to MG Hospital, eight have suffered burns over more than 50 per cent of their bodies and are in serious condition.
An investigation has been initiated to establish the ownership of the factory and whether permission existed for storing such highly flammable chemicals on the premises. The unit was reportedly being run in a residential area.
As a precaution, residents of nearby houses were evacuated to safer locations. Several surrounding houses are also suspected to have been damaged by the intense flames.
The district collector and the police commissioner visited the hospital after the incident to take stock of the condition of the injured firefighters. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot expressed concern over the incident and wished the injured a speedy recovery.