Mumbai, DEcember 31: A devastating fire erupted late last night at a gloves factory in Maharashtra's Aurangabad, resulting in the tragic loss of at least six lives. Workers, who were inside the premises as the factory was closed, reported that the fire broke out around 2:15 am.
Upon receiving the distress call at 2:15 a.m., fire officers rushed to the scene to find the entire factory engulfed in flames. "Our officers entered, and the bodies of six people have been recovered," stated Mohan Mungse, a fire officer, to news agency ANI.
While the fire was eventually brought under control by morning, officials are still investigating the exact cause of the incident. "The operation to douse the fire was underway," added Mungse.
Initially, residents had feared that five workers were trapped inside the building. Subsequently, fire department officials confirmed the tragic deaths of six individuals who were reportedly sleeping inside the factory when the fire erupted.
"Ten to fifteen workers were sleeping inside the building when the fire broke out. Some managed to escape, but at least five were trapped inside," revealed a worker in a statement to ANI.
The precise cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
In a related incident on the previous day, a chemical factory in Navi Mumbai suffered a similar fate as a fire engulfed it in the Taloja MIDC area. Despite the deployment of twelve fire engines and an eight-hour effort, the factory was destroyed. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire.
Both incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced safety measures in industrial settings to prevent such tragic events.