Blaze engulfs chemical store, causes panic in Mohali village

On Friday, Jandpur village in Kharar experienced a harrowing incident reminiscent of the Kurali chemical factory fire, as a chemical storehouse caught fire. The event unfolded with more than 20 drums, containing unidentified chemicals, exploding sequentially, sending flames soaring several meters above the building’s roof for approximately four hours. Firefighters deployed 15 fire tenders to control the blaze, which occurred in an annexe-shop of a residential house.
The situation triggered panic in the area, with explosions reverberating through the village. Despite the efforts of gathered residents to control the fire, the intensity grew. Nearby youths attempted to mitigate the impact by spraying water on straw stored in an adjacent shed, as smoke billowed following the heating of the partition wall.
Kaur Singh, the fire officer from Kharar, reported that a distress call was received at 2 pm, prompting the dispatch of three fire tenders from Kharar and Mohali. It took approximately four hours to bring the fire under control. The store, located in a house and containing around 20 chemical drums, was rented out by the house owner. The structure sustained damage, but fortunately, there were no reported injuries. The tenant was reported missing since the fire broke out.
According to neighbours, the store had been rented out a month ago, and complaints about a pungent smell had been previously brought to the attention of the house owner, who allegedly ignored them.
Kharar DSP Karanvir Sandhu assured that the police would conduct a thorough investigation, and necessary actions would be taken against the responsible party once the inquiry is complete. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in connection with the incident.