Factory fires in Uluberia and Narendrapur trigger panic, goods worth crores damaged

Major fires broke out at factories in Uluberia and Narendrapur on Tuesday, prompting large-scale firefighting operations and causing extensive damage to property and stored materials. In Uluberia’s Bauria area, a blaze engulfed the North Jute Mill, where goods worth nearly ₹40 crore were reportedly destroyed. Six fire engines were deployed and firefighters continued operations for more than 10 hours. At the same time, another fire erupted at an ink manufacturing factory in the Ramchandrapur area under Narendrapur Police Station in South 24 Parganas district, where three fire engines were rushed to the spot.

According to mill sources in Uluberia, security guards first noticed flames in the B-1 section of the North Jute Mill at around 11 pm on Monday. Guards initially attempted to control the fire using the factory’s internal firefighting system, but the flames spread rapidly to the bale godown where large quantities of jute were stored. Firefighters faced difficulties containing the blaze because of the inflammable materials inside the premises. Even on Tuesday morning, parts of the fire were still burning.

In Narendrapur, local residents said work had been underway at the factory since morning when flames suddenly broke out inside the premises. Officials said the factory stored chemicals and inflammable materials used in idol-making, which intensified the fire and caused it to spread quickly across sections of the building. Firefighters continued efforts to control the blaze while attempting to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby structures.

Fire department officials and police said preliminary findings suggest the fires may have been caused by a short circuit or accidental exposure to a fire source, although the exact cause will be confirmed only after a full investigation. Authorities said no casualties had been reported in either incident. The latest fires come weeks after previous fire incidents in Narendrapur, Anandapur and Topsia, where warehouses and factories had also caught fire, leading to extensive damage and prolonged firefighting operations.