Noida: A fire broke out at a jewellery manufacturing factory in Block B of Sector 88 late on Monday night, likely due to a short circuit in the building’s electrical panel. No injuries were reported as the factory was vacant when the blaze started but the ground and the first floors of the building were gutted, a fire department official said.According to chief fire officer Pradeep Kumar Chaubey, the fire control room received information about the incident around 11.15pm, following which eight fire tenders were pressed into action.Firemen battled the blaze for nearly three hours before bringing dousing it. However, by then, the ground and first floors of the three-storey industrial building were extensively damaged.“The fire originated on the ground floor. The building’s security guard noticed smoke coming from inside the premises and informed the fire department,” Chaubey said.Preliminary investigation found the electrical panel to be old and outdated. “Prima facie, it is suspected that an electrical fault led to the fire. The exact cause will be confirmed after a detailed investigation,” the chief fire officer added.Officials said the incident occurred after working hours and all employees had already left the factory, preventing any loss of life.The fire department said its aim was to ensure the fire did not spread to other adjacent buildings in the densely packed industrial area, which could lead to a major disaster.The extent of the financial loss is yet to be assessed. Fire officials said representatives of the factory management will inspect the premises before preparing a report on the damage caused by the blaze.Authorities have reiterated the need for regular maintenance and inspection of electrical installations in industrial units, particularly ageing electrical panels, to minimise the risk of fire accidents. Further investigation into the incident is under way.
