SHILLONG, JAN 13: A mattress manufacturing factory located at Amjok, Byrnihat, was completely gutted in a massive fire that broke out on Monday afternoon, triggering panic among nearby residents and workers.
According to information gathered, the fire erupted at around 3 pm after a machine used for cutting foam reportedly caught fire suddenly while work was underway. The blaze spread rapidly, engulfing the entire factory within a short span of time.
The factory, identified as Ummadat Foam Industries, is owned by Adarsh Jhunjhunwala. At the time of the incident, workers had just returned from their lunch break when the fire broke out, leaving them with little time to respond.
The owner of the factory stated that the fire originated from a foam-cutting machine that caught fire unexpectedly. Due to the highly inflammable materials inside the unit, the flames spread swiftly, making it impossible to control the situation. The extent of damage and financial loss is yet to be ascertained.
Following the incident, police personnel from Byrnihat, along with fire tenders from Meghalaya and Assam, rushed to the spot to douse the flames. Firefighters, assisted by local residents, worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby houses in the Amjok area.
No injuries have been reported so far, while further investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.