Ludhiana: A major fire gutted a plastic factory in a residential pocket of Khanna on Sunday morning, forcing neighbours to flee their homes and sparking fresh allegations of illegal industrial operations in the township.The blaze, fuelled by stockpiles of flammable plastic, erupted around 7am on Kabza Factory Road. While multiple fire crews managed to contain the flames before they spread to adjacent housing, the incident has reignited a local feud over zoning laws and public safety.Residents reported seeing thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the facility shortly after dawn. Firefighting efforts were hampered by the volatile nature of the raw materials stored inside, which accelerated the fire’s spread through the structure. Local resident Shashi Vardhan said: “The factory is surrounded by family homes.”Fire department official Damanpreet claimed the emergency response to be quick and that although the factory sustained extensive damage, no casualties were reported, and the site has since been declared safe.Zoning DisputeThe incident has drawn sharp criticism from the community regarding the presence of hazardous industries in residential zones. Avtar Maurya, a neighbour, claimed several factories operated in the area without legal permits and repeated complaints to the municipal council had gone unheard. The factory owner disputed these claims, maintaining the facility holds all necessary no-objection certificates (NOCs) and govt permissions.A Weekend of Industrial ChaosThe Khanna region is currently reeling from a string of industrial accidents. Sunday’s blaze follows a massive explosion on Saturday at a steel factory in nearby Bishanpura, which left seven women injured. The recurring incidents have placed local authorities under intense pressure to audit fire safety protocols and verify the legality of factories operating within densely populated areas.
