Massive fire guts furniture factory in Khed MIDC near Chiplun, losses in crores
A fire that raged for about fifteen hours gutted a furniture factory in Khed MIDC near Chiplun, causing losses worth crores of rupees.
A massive fire broke out at the furniture-making factory of Imperial Traders in the Kherdi industrial area near Chiplun town, gutting the entire factory. Three fire brigade vehicles were deployed through the night to douse the blaze. The fire was brought under control at 5 am on Thursday, but flared up again a short while later. Efforts to control the fire continued for a total of around fifteen hours.
According to initial estimates, the fire was caused by a short circuit. Twelve machines imported from abroad along with all other material in the factory were reduced to ashes. The fire has caused losses running into crores of rupees.
According to information received, Nihal Malani and Sohail Fazlani had jointly started the furniture factory under the name Imperial Traders in Khed MIDC in 2021. Eight to ten workers were employed there. Malani had spent around four crore rupees to import twelve machines from abroad for furniture-making. All kinds of furniture for home use were manufactured here, and ready-made furniture from well-known companies was also kept for sale. On Wednesday night, after the company closed around 9 pm, all the workers had gone home.
Malani and Fazlani received news of the fire in the company between around 9:30 and 10 pm. Following this, the Chiplun municipal fire brigade as well as the fire brigade from Lote were called in. The fire kept spreading until the vehicles arrived. A number of people gathered at the spot to help, but relief efforts faced difficulties because of buildings on both sides of the company. Attempts were made to control the fire with the help of three fire brigade vehicles. The fire was brought under control by 1 am, but kept reigniting repeatedly because of the large quantity of wood and sawdust in the factory.
Efforts to douse the fire with the help of fire brigade vehicles continued until 5 am on Thursday, but the fire flared up again around 9:30 am and the half-burnt material began burning once more. Finally, around 10:30 am, the fire was completely brought under control with the help of the Chiplun municipal fire brigade and the Lote fire brigade. This furniture company had started five years ago. Heavy iron beams had been installed for the shed of the company building, but these beams also heated up and bent from the intensity of the fire. Apart from the iron material, nothing was left in the factory.
