Ludhiana: A massive fire broke out at a furniture factory in Jagraon near Ludhiana on Saturday, triggering panic in the area as huge flames and thick black smoke billowed into the sky.
According to local residents, the smoke plume was visible from nearly two kilometres away.
Workers inside the factory managed to escape in time and no casualties have been reported so far. However, the fire spread rapidly within minutes as large quantities of wood, plywood and finished furniture material stored inside the premises caught fire.
People from nearby villages and localities gathered near the factory after noticing the massive smoke clouds rising into the air.
Teams from the Fire Brigade rushed to the spot soon after the incident was reported. At least four fire tenders are currently engaged in efforts to control the blaze, while rescue and cooling operations remain underway.
Preliminary suspicion points towards a possible short circuit as the cause of the incident, though officials said the exact reason will be confirmed only after a detailed investigation.
