It was a miraculous escape for over 400 workers after a fire broke out at Maruti Suzuki’s vendor company at the Industrial Model Township (IMT), Bawal, in neighbouring Rewari on Tuesday night.
The fire broke out at the India Japan Lighting Private Limited plant, which manufactures head lights for automobile companies like Maruti Suzuki India Limited, around 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday.
It took two dozen fire tenders more than four hours to control the blaze. The workers inside the premises, meanwhile, managed to escape to safety.
“I was inside with half-a-dozen workers when I heard people screaming. We came out to find a portion of the factory on fire. We tried to douse the flames, but water points inside the company were not working. We tried to douse it with water buckets and fire extinguishers, but it could not be controlled,” said Raj, a worker at the factory.
The fire led to a stampede-like situation, but the workers managed to escape unhurt as there were four exits. According to the workers, the fire tenders reached the spot late and were not prepared to tackle the situation. “Only one fire tender reached the spot 45 minutes after a call was made. More fire tenders were called in as it did not have enough water. The fire was controlled only after all the material was gutted,” said Narender Yadav, another worker.
Fire Service Officer (Rewari), Sajjan Kumar, told The Hindu that fire tenders were called in from Gurgaon, Manesar, Mahendargarh and Bhiwadi. “We have only five tenders at Rewari and two at IMT, Bawal. We had to call tenders from neighbouring districts. The cause of the fire is not known yet,” said Mr. Kumar. He, however, rubbished reports about water points in the company not working.
Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union general-secretary Kuldeep Jhangu has now raised questions over the preparedness of the administration to deal with emergencies.
