Fire causes confusion

VADODARA, March 17: Burning of garbage in the compound of Ruhaina Steel Compound, just 100 metres away from the Sonpal Petrol Pump adjoining Pratapnagar overbridge, led to chaos and confusion among the area residents and shopkeepers on Wednesday afternoon. The garbage dump outside the factory8217;s compound had become an eyesore and the owners put the garbage on fire. However, bitumen coated corrugated tin-sheets forming wall of the compound also caught fire, fire brigade said.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire spread as the premises had plenty of tall and dry grass. Soon, the entire premises of the factory was engulfed into a big fire, eyewitnesses said.

As the scene of fire was just 100 metres away from the Sompal petrol pump, residents of the area as well as two and four wheeler drivers stopped to look as to what had happened, resulting in a traffic jam.

The petrol pump was also closed down for half an hour and its employees had readied themselves with their fire-fighting equipments in case of any untoward incident. However, the fire in the steel company was brought under control before it could spread, a petrol pump employee said.

When contacted, fire brigade personnel said there was no loss of property as only garbage and dry grass had burnt.