Jeedimetla factory inferno rages for over 20 hours, facility collapses

Hyderabad: The building of the SSV Fab Industries in the Jeedimetla industrial area of Medchal district collapsed after being engulfed by flames for over 20 hours following a fire on Tuesday afternoon. The collapse has complicated the firefighting efforts in the area.

According to police, the blaze started around 1 p.m. on the third floor of the polythene bag manufacturing unit and quickly spread to all floors. The storage of oil drums intensified the fire, making it harder to contain. Initial investigations suggest an electrical fault might have triggered the incident.

After receiving a call, ten fire tenders from different parts of the city including Jeedimetla, Kukatpally, Secunderabad, Charlapally, Madhapur, and LB Nagar were pressed into service. The water board also sent water tankers to the site to control the inferno. It is reported that intense heat and thick smoke hampered the firefighting efforts.

All 60 workers who were working in the factory when the fire broke out were evacuated, no injuries or casualties reported. Meanwhile, the huge flames have caused extensive damage to the factory building, destroying property worth several crores. A case has been registered and an investigation is on, police added.

SSV Fab Industries is a major producer of plastic bags, manufacturing up to 4 lakh bags daily for domestic and international clients in industries like sugar, rice, food grains, cement, and fertilizers.