Six cylinders explode in Saket Nagar factory fire, no casualties

Kanpur: A massive fire broke out at a cardboard factory in Saket Nagar on Thursday due to a short circuit, triggering loud explosions as six gas cylinders stored inside went off within moments.

However, nobody was injured in the incident.The blasts sent residents into a panic and forced them out of their homes. After seeing flames rise 10 feet high, locals alerted the Kidwai Nagar police and the fire brigade. Nine fire engines from five fire stations brought the blaze under control after about five hours.The cardboard factory, owned by Saket Nagar resident Ajit Arora, operated out of a rented building belonging to local resident Indrapal Arora.

A short circuit at 3:30 am on Thursday sparked a fire that engulfed boxes and gas cylinders stored inside, with successive explosions intensifying the blaze.The blasts jolted residents awake in nearby homes and apartments. Outside, they saw towering flames as the factory’s tin shed was reduced to ashes. Acting on calls from residents, Kidwai Nagar police and fire engines from Fazalganj, Latoush Road, Meerpur Cantt and Jajmau stations rushed to the spot.

The collapsed tin shed made it difficult to douse the burning cardboard. Firefighters used a backhoe loader to pull apart the debris and separate the material, bringing the intermittently flaring fire under control by around 8:30 am.Chief fire officer Deepak Sharma said the blaze worsened after cylinders stored in the factory burst. Of the 12 cylinders recovered, six had exploded. No casualties were reported as the factory was closed at the time.