PILERNE: A major fire broke out in the Berger-Becker paint manufacturing factory in the Pilerne Industrial Estate on Tuesday afternoon, which continued till night, generating clouds of smoke causing panic in many parts of North Goa and as far away as Panjim.
The fire, reported at around 2.30 pm, escalated and engulfed the entire factory. Blasts were heard inside the factory in which a huge quantity of chemicals was stored that generated gas. However, no casualties were reported.
Mamu Hage, Collector, North Goa, who rushed to the spot, said the situation was under control and there was no danger to human life.
“The fire is still continuing. It appears that even after dousing certain parts, there is reignition of certain parts, so the fire is continuing. But to a certain extent the fire has been controlled. People in the 200 metre radius around the paint factory have been evacuated. The Health Department has been alerted and we have mobilised all resources. We are trying to ascertain what kind of chemicals were there. We have asked the Health Department to ascertain what gases are present in the air. Till such time we're advising people to wear masks,” Hage said.
Rajesh Mehrotra, Managing Director of Berger-Becker, said the factory has two buildings and a fire broke out in the building where raw materials used in the manufacture of paints were stored, causing major damage. A truck which was unloading material was also gutted. The other building was not affected.
“Around 2.30 pm there was a fire alarm. Immediately the first thing we did was remove all the people away from the site; there were 94 persons and we took them out. The second was to control the fire, but our firefighting team could not do that, so we called the fire brigade and they came immediately. We are trying to ascertain the reason for the fire, but prima facie it looks like a short circuit,” Mehrotra said.
Asked about the loss, he said, “It's difficult to say. I will be able to say only when we make an assessment.”
Around 40 fire tenders from Pilerne, Porvorim, Mapusa, Kundaim and other fire stations were involved in the firefighting operations till evening. The Navy also sent two fire tenders with foam, Hage said.
Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) chairman Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, who was also present, said they have taken all precautions. “We've cordoned off the area. There are no casualties. One truck with paint inside is burnt. We couldn’t take it out. It was too risky,” he said.
Saligao MLA Kedar Naik said the fire was out of control “because there are a lot of chemicals inside. So it’s going to go on for some time,” he said.
MD Mehrotra said the plant has been there for around two decades. “We have been here since 2004. We have been manufacturing polyester-based paints which go for coating the top of the buildings, side of buildings. We’re a joint venture company with Berger-Becker, Becker is a Swedish company. We maintain all standards at the site.”