Ghaziabad plastic factory fire doused, three bodies pulled out

Three charred bodies were pulled out of the plastic packaging factory, which had been engulfed in flames since Saturday morning in Patel Nagar, Ghaziabad. Police said though the fire was contained within four hours after it was reported, "subsidiary fires" at different places in the plant continued till Sunday morning.

Police suspect the bodies could be of the three workers who have been missing since the time the fire broke out. The missing workers were identified as Pradeep Kumar, Pradeep Saini and Kishan Pal.

Thirty-two fire tenders were pressed into service to quell the blaze, Fire officials said. They said the fire started around 11 am in Saturday at Poysha — a plastics packaging company.

"The trigger for the fire is yet to be ascertained, but eyewitnesses said it started around the time a chemical drum was brought into the factory. A malfunction in the process of setting it down could be the reason. Further investigations will establish the exact cause of the fire," an official said.

The fire tenders were called in from Ghaziabad, Meerut, Hapur and the Hindon Air Force Station. "A helicopter was used as well. The fire was difficult to handle because of highly inflammable chemicals. Sixty workers were in the factory at the time — while most escaped, three were trapped. We believe that the bodies pulled out today could be of those three workers," the official said.

Rescue officials said they were yet to search the basement of the factory. "There are noxious fumes in the basement, so personnel have not been able to enter. After the fumes clear, the basement will also be searched. Four people received minor injuries," the official said.

The management of the company said all fire safety measures were in place, but the Fire department will conduct a thorough investigation. "We will conduct an inquiry into the cause of the fire. Then we will see if there is a need to register a case against the management of the company," a police officer said.

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