Massive fire at chemical waste facility in Pithampur:Explosions in drums destroy JCB, Hydra crane; thick smoke plume visible for several kilometers

A major fire broke out late Tuesday night at a chemical waste disposal facility in Sector-3 of Pithampur, triggering explosions in chemical drums and sending thick plumes of smoke visible for several kilometres. The fire started around 9:45 pm at an industrial waste management unit and quickly escalated, spreading to nearby factories and forcing evacuation of multiple units. Workers rescued as explosions trigger panic Around 10 workers were present at the time of the incident and were safely evacuated. Within minutes, repeated explosions from chemical drums created panic across the industrial area. Massive firefighting operation launched Teams from the district administration, police, and municipal authorities rushed to the spot and began rescue operations. Firefighters also deployed robotic equipment, while dumpers filled with sand and gravel were used to prevent the fire from spreading further. See 6 photos of the accident… Heavy damage to machinery The blaze destroyed heavy equipment, including JCB machines and Hydra cranes. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and an investigation has been ordered. Chemical waste suspected as cause Preliminary inputs suggest that stored industrial chemical waste may have triggered the fire. However, officials are yet to confirm the exact cause. Local residents reported that the smoke plume was visible from several kilometres away due to the intensity of the blaze. Fire largely under control Authorities said around 90% of the fire has been brought under control, though efforts to fully extinguish it are still underway. The fire is currently confined within the premises, with smoke still rising. No casualties reported, search to continue Officials confirmed that no casualties have been reported so far. A detailed search will be conducted once the fire is completely extinguished. Nearby industrial units have been allowed to resume operations with caution, while continuous water spraying is being carried out around the affected facility. Heavy losses to nearby industries Adjacent units suffered significant damage. Industrialist Johar Kala, associated with companies supplying to the railway and defence sectors, said his entire plant and machinery were destroyed. Production has come to a complete halt, leading to losses worth crores. He alleged that this was the fourth such fire incident in the past four years and claimed that repeated complaints had gone unaddressed. SDRF team deployed, residents shifted to safety A team from the State Disaster Response Force reached the site to assist in firefighting operations. Police officials said the presence of flammable materials contributed to the rapid spread of the fire to two nearby units, both of which are now under control. While there are no residential colonies nearby, people staying in roadside eateries in the vicinity were shifted to safer locations as a precaution.