Patiala: A massive fire broke out in a cooker manufacturing unit at Patran in Patiala district on Tuesday, killing one worker and leaving several others injured, including a woman.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit. The flames first caught the cardboard used for packaging and quickly engulfed the entire factory. Thick smoke and fast-spreading fire left little time for many workers to escape.
While several workers managed to rush outside, some were trapped inside. Two severely injured workers were rescued, but one died on the way to the hospital. A woman worker, who sustained serious burn injuries, was shifted to Patiala for advanced treatment.
Fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and battled for hours to douse the flames. Patiala Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav and senior officials visited the site to take stock of the situation. Police have begun an investigation into the cause of the accident.
