Massive fire in abandoned Hindustan Cables, multiple floors burnt to ashes! Is there any anti-social activity behind it? Special Correspondent from Rupnarayanpur: A sudden and massive fire broke out in the abandoned multi-story building of the Research and Development (R&D) department of Hindustan Cables, a historic public sector undertaking that has been closed for a long time. This sudden accident, which occurred on Monday afternoon, September 28, caused intense sensation and panic in the area. The intensity of the fire was so high that multiple floors of this multi-story building were completely burnt to ashes.
According to news received from local sources, local residents suddenly saw black smoke billowing from the huge abandoned building located in Rupnarayanpur around Monday afternoon. Before anyone could understand anything, the leaping flames of the fire spread to the upper floors of the entire building in moments. Residents of the surrounding area were extremely terrified by the incident. Without wasting a single moment, they immediately informed the Rupnarayanpur police outpost. As soon as the news was received, the police administration acted promptly and reached the spot. The intensity and magnitude of the fire were so terrible that it was not possible for the local police outpost alone to handle the situation. The Chittaranjan fire department was informed. Although a fire engine from Chittaranjan reached the spot and started primary work, it failed to control the fire. Seeing the worsening situation, additional fire teams were subsequently summoned from Asansol. After prolonged efforts by multiple fire engines and personnel, work to bring the fire under control began.
Investigations revealed that an important office of the state-owned telecom company BSNL was rented on the second floor of the building. Suddenly, the intensity of the fire was seen to be the highest on this floor. However, a major disaster was averted in the thought that the BSNL authorities had shifted this office elsewhere a few days ago. Consequently, the possibility of any major loss of life was avoided.
Elaborating on the incident, R.N. Ojha, the officer-in-charge of Hindustan Cables, clearly stated that no valuable materials belonging to the company or production were left in the building. Ever since the factory's production stopped, necessary and expensive items had been sold off in auctions beforehand as per rules. As a result, no major financial loss or the company's core documents or secret files were destroyed. However, wood and fiber cabins used for operational work in various departments, valuable furniture, and other office equipment were completely reduced to ashes.
Meanwhile, due to the lack of proper care and maintenance for a long time, this huge, very old infrastructure was already in a very fragile and dilapidated state. Experts have expressed apprehension that as a result of today's tragic fire, the weak structure of the building has become even more damaged and risky.
Questions are being raised as to how this fire started. Although the administration has not yet clarified the exact cause of the outbreak of the fire, a section of local residents expressed anger and made serious allegations that anti-social activities had been thriving for a long time in this deserted and completely vacant abandoned building. Day after day, unfamiliar and suspicious people frequented this place from various locations. This building was known as a hangout spot for them. Local residents initially suspect that this mishap might have occurred from a burning bidi or cigarette butt left behind by all those anti-social elements or miscreants. Some are even seeing the shadow of sabotage behind it.
For now, the police and the fire department are jointly looking into the whole matter, and the administration has stated that forensic investigation may be taken to find out the real cause of the fire. After this incident, new questions have started to arise regarding the security of abandoned government properties in the area. Local residents have strongly demanded the immediate demolition of such dangerous and abandoned buildings or bringing them under strict security. Incidentally, this pathetic plight of Hindustan Cables Limited has been causing resentment in the minds of the people of the industrial belt for a long time, and today's accident added fuel to that resentment.
