Agrochemical factory gutted in Waghodiya GIDC

Vadodara: A major fire broke out at an agrochemical company in Waghodiya GIDC on Saturday early morning.
According to fire officials, the fire began at the company’s solvent plant sometime around 5 am. Around 30% of the company’s staff was present in the packaging plant but they were all evacuated in time.
Firemen from Emergency Response Centre (ERC) at Darjipura were the first to respond, but due to blasts occurring in the solvent plant, a major call was announced. Around seven fire emergencies from Vadodara Fire and Emergency Services and two water bowsers from local industries were pressed into service.
“We had to use thousands of litres of water and foam liquid to control the fire in the solvent plant. However, flames had also engulfed the packaging and other areas of the plant so we could douse the fire only by noon,” said fire officer Harshwardhan Puwar of ERC.
He suspected that fire could have been sparked due to fault in electric connections. Even in the evening, one fire engine was kept on standby at the company as smoke continued to bellow from the gutted plant.
Puwar said that the company did not have basic equipment like hydrant systems and water to fight fire. “We had to take water from neighbouring companies,” he added.