Blaze erupts at chemical godown in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi

THANE: A fire broke out at a chemical godown in Bhiwandi in Thane on Tuesday morning, triggering a three-hour firefighting operation, officials said. While no casualties were reported in the fire that erupted at a godown in the Khadipar area around 9.30 am, thick plumes of foul-smelling smoke engulfed the locality, they said. Two fire engines of the Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC) were rushed to the spot, and the blaze was brought under control and extinguished by 12.30 pm, he said, adding that cooling operations were underway. "As of now, no one has been reported injured in the incident. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained and is under investigation," the officer said. According to eyewitnesses, thick plumes of smoke and flames were visible from a considerable distance. "Dense smoke and flames could be seen from afar, and a foul smell spread across the locality due to the chemicals stored in the godown," the official said. Firefighting teams also faced challenges during the operation, particularly due to inadequate water supply, he said.