Massive fire guts paint factory in Khardah’s
The Statesman | 22 October 2025The inferno, fuelled by large quantities of chemicals and inflammable materials, quickly spread through the premises, making it extremely difficult for the fire brigade to bring the situation under control. According to sources, the blaze started suddenly around 6 a.m. at the paint factory and spread rapidly. Five fire tenders were initially pressed into service, but the intensity of the flames forced officials to deploy additional units. By 8 a.m, nearly 20 engines were engaged in battling the fire. Senior officials from the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate and the fire services department rushed to the spot to supervise operations.
Eyewitnesses said huge plumes of smoke were visible from several kilometres away. “The entire area turned grey with smoke. Breathing became difficult,” said a local resident. The fire soon spread to an adjoining hosiery unit, further intensifying the crisis. Firefighters struggled for hours amid the soaring heat and repeated chemical explosions. By 9.30 a.m, officials said the blaze had been “largely brought under control,” though pockets of fire continued to burn deep inside the factory.
Preliminary investigation suggests a short circuit might have triggered the fire, but officials said a detailed probe would confirm the exact cause.
A senior fire officer said: “We surrounded the flames from all sides to prevent the fire from spreading further. The proximity of several small factories in this area made our job extremely challenging. Had the fire reached them, the damage could have been far worse.” No casualties have been reported so far, but the entire factory has been reduced to ashes. Fire officials have cautioned that the lack of adequate space between factories in the industrial cluster remains a serious safety concern.
