A massive fire broke out early Monday morning, May 12, in a warehouse at the Richland Compound in Bhiwandi, located in Maharashtra’s Thane district. The blaze, which quickly spread and was visible from several kilometres away, has caused widespread panic and chaos in the surrounding areas.
According to news agency PTI, the fire first erupted in five units before rapidly engulfing a nearby storage space containing mandap (wedding stage) decorations. India TV News reports that approximately 22 warehouses have been destroyed in the inferno. The affected warehouses reportedly contained chemicals, printing machinery, electronic items, protein food powders, cosmetic products, clothing, footwear, mandap decoration materials, and furniture.
Firefighting and rescue operations were swiftly initiated after distress calls were made. Fire tenders from Bhiwandi and Kalyan were deployed to the scene. As of now, four fire engines are actively working to control the fire. Police forces and emergency responders are also present, assisting with operations and crowd control.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and an investigation is expected once the blaze is fully brought under control. No casualties have been reported so far.
This incident follows a similar fire on May 10, when a plywood factory-cum-godown in Thane’s Rahnal village caught fire, leading to serious injuries to firefighters. That fire, which broke out around 3:30 am, spread rapidly due to the highly combustible materials stored inside.
