LAHORE, Oct 27: Three workers of a glue factory and at least four rescuers fainted when a fire broke out in one of the warehouses of Samad Rubbers Works Limited in New Bhabra locality on Ferozepur Road on Monday.
This was the second fire reported in the factory owned by Mian Fazal-i-Haq which is located in a congested residential locality near Naseerabad Stop, reducing glue worth hundreds of thousands of rupees to ashes.
Staffers and workers left the factory hurriedly after the fire causing a stampede amid toxic chemical fumes engulfing the whole premises. The fire erupted apparently owing to short-circuit in an air-conditioner unit installed in the warehouse where stock of Samad Bond glue and Elfi was stored, said a Rescue 1122 official.
Emergency Officer (Operations) Dr Rizwan said one factory worker and their two rescuers, including Hafiz Irfan, fainted and were shifted to Jinnah Hospital.
He said they controlled the fire and cleared the area in at least three hours, adding it was difficult for the masked rescuers to stay in the warehouse for more than four minutes. An Edhi Foundation spokesman said three victims, including Tasleem, 22, and Shoaib Mayo, 24, also fainted and were taken to Jinnah Hospital.
According to the Naseerabad police, two city fire brigade officials, unidentified so far, were also fainted in the fire. A factory employee, seeking anonymity, said glue of different types, rubber shoes, petrol tanks, sports goods and other industrial material were manufactured and stored in the factory unit spreading over 10 kanals.
He said around 500 workers worked in different sections of the factory in two shifts, and supervisor of the affected warehouse was being questioned by the factory administration for his alleged negligence.Locals expressed resentment over the establishment of the factory in the residential area and feared that any such incident in future could cause major devastation.
“The administration has kept a large quantity of petrol and chemicals in the factory and imagine how much loss would have occurred if the fire had reached the petrol depot not far away from the warehouse,” a resident, Saqlain Haider, said.
He said besides two major industrial units, there were dozens of small shoe-manufacturing units in the area.
“I am residing adjacent to the factory and always fear that a large quantity of petrol and chemicals, which is either lying in tanks beneath the ground or in open, can blow the adjacent residential localities up in case of any fire or other calamity,” said another local.
The Naseerabad SHO said the incident was apparently an accident and no legal action was in progress so far.