Printing press gutted in early morning fire

Greater Noida: A printing press in Ecotech 3 police station area was gutted in a blaze early on Monday. No injuries were reported as there was no one in the area at the time of the fire.
The blaze was put out after almost 14 hours.

According to the police, the fire broke out in the factory unit of Brijwasi Art Press Limited in Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida, around 5am. The press was shut at that time.

The security guard spotted the blaze and informed the police, who later informed the fire safety officer.

“We got the information around 5.25am through a police control van after which a fire tender was dispatched to the spot. Later, 18 more fire tenders were called in from all fire stations in the district,” said Shesh Nath Yadav, the fire safety officer, Ecotech 3 fire station.

He added that since it was a paper factory, the fire spread quickly but the reason for the blaze is yet to be ascertained.

“The fire damaged almost 90% of the factory. Everything, including machinery, got destroyed. The operation was on for almost 14 hours till we controlled the fire,” Yadav said.

Apurv Garg, the owner of the factory, told TOI that the campus is built on four acres and they publish children’s books, posters, and cartons.

“We are old in the business. The company was shut as it was a Sunday. I suspect a short-circuit. We have not calculated the losses yet. A complaint will be filed in the local police station from our side,” he said.

The owner added that it will take Rs 100 to Rs 150 crore for reconstruction of the factory. “The campus is insured and we are hoping to get the claim. The loss can be pegged at around Rs 100 crore. From the unit we used to print and export children’s books to around 110 countries,” he said.