Fire guts hologram factory in Sec V, close shave for staff
Times of India | 4 May 2025
1234 Kolkata: A fire broke out at a hologram manufacturing factory in Salt Lake Sector V on Friday, scaring techies and locals alike. This incident was particularly alarming as it followed closely on the heels of a devastating blaze at a Burrabazar hotel.
Friday's fire started around 2 pm at Holoflex Limited, a company specialising in security holograms for Aadhaar cards, voter cards, RuPay payment cards, and other brands, besides labels. It is located at CN Block in Sector V. There were around 100 employees at the unit when the fire broke out. A large stockpile of flammable chemicals at the unit fuelled the blaze. As many as 12 fire tenders took more than two hours to douse the blaze. Firemen confirmed that no one had to be evacuated and that there were no injuries.
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"The movement of fire tenders was slowed down because of rampant parking on the road, and we have informed the cops about the same," said Sujit Bose, the state fire minister. Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh Kumar was also on the spot. When asked about the issue of parking that had hindered fire tender movement, he said, "The majority of places where vehicles are parked are notified fee parking areas by NDITA. We will check if there are any unauthorised parking areas operating here."
Company officials said the fire started in the machine room and soon spread to other units. The thick black fumes rose were visible from Chingrighata flyover and Biswa Bangla crossing. The company is yet to ascertain extent of its loss but its director, Pancham Kumar Surana,claimed to have taken fire NOC and factory licence to run the unit.