7 dead in Maharashtra candle factory fire

 Mumbai: At least seven people died and several women workers were injured in a major fire that broke out in a Seven people died and several women workers were injured in a major fire that broke out in a candle-making factory on Friday in Pimpri-Chinchwad city in Maharashtra.

The fire broke out in a factory situated inside the compound of the Rana Engineering near Jyotibanagar, Talawade, at about 3 pm. The fire spread fast owing to the inflammable material stored in the compound.

Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal commissioner Shekhar Singh said that the fire brigade received the distress call around 2.45 pm, prompting swift action. “Eight people have also been injured and they have been shifted to Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital, Pimpri and Sassoon General Hospital in Pune,” he said.

Singh confirmed that the fire has been extinguished, though the cause remains under investigation.

The factory is specialised in the production of sparkling candles commonly used for birthday celebrations. The massive blaze left several workers feared trapped, adding to the severity of the situation. Rescue operations are in full swing as some individuals remain trapped within the engulfed premises.

According to the fire officials, the sparkling candles were being manufactured illegally inside the factory. “The highly inflammable raw material may have caught fire and led to a blast. All the deceased are workers at the unit. The walls of the structure have also sustained considerable damage, indicating that it was a powerful blast,” said an official.

Locals said that the warehouse operated without a license and this is not the first occurrence of such incidents.