A catastrophic industrial accident unfolded in Jodhpur on Wednesday evening when a severe blaze ripped through a locked handicraft and chemical storage unit in the Basni industrial precinct. The emergency began around 5:30 PM inside a facility located in Ganesh Colony, where dense plumes of toxic smoke and tall flames quickly drew the attention of panic-stricken residents. As fire rescue teams scrambled to prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining properties, a sudden chemical explosion on the premises turned the rescue operation into a major medical emergency.
Flammable Solvents Fuel Rapid Fire Spread in Locked Unit
The manufacturing premises were entirely shut and secured with a padlock when the fire initially ignited inside. Large volumes of highly flammable industrial chemicals and thinners, commonly used for finishing handicrafts, had been stored within the building. Upon coming into contact with intense heat and sparks, these volatile materials ignited almost immediately, causing the blaze to escalate beyond control within minutes. Chemical storage drums began rupturing and detonating in rapid succession inside the enclosed space, creating loud concussions that shook the neighborhood and created widespread fear.
Falling Debris Triggers Destructive Blast Among Responders
Upon receiving the distress call, the municipal fire department dispatched 10 fire tenders accompanied by a dedicated team of around 35 personnel to combat the fire. As firefighters advanced through the exterior and compromised sections of the facility to douse the flames, an overhead structural failure worsened the crisis. A heavy stone dislodged from the building's damaged roof collapsed directly onto an unexploded chemical drum positioned on the floor below. The violent impact caused the container to burst instantly into a massive fireball, showering the immediate perimeter with ignited solvent and leaving 14 firefighting personnel severely burned.
Emergency Evacuations and Hospital Transfers Across Jodhpur
First responders swiftly evacuated all 14 injured personnel to the emergency ward at AIIMS Jodhpur for rapid triage. After receiving preliminary care and assessment, 2 personnel who suffered minor burns were discharged. Because AIIMS Jodhpur lacked an operational specialized burn unit, the remaining 12 injured personnel were promptly transferred to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital for intensive treatment. Medical staff reported that 4 of the hospitalized firefighters remain in critical condition, prompting a specialized medical team to organize an isolated ICU ward to oversee their complex medical stabilization.
Senior Administrators Launch Investigation into Unlawful Storage
Top administrative and enforcement officials responded immediately to the escalating crisis. Jodhpur District Collector Alok Ranjan and Police Commissioner Anshuman Bhomia arrived at the medical facilities to evaluate the treatment protocols and speak with attending physicians. Meanwhile, Chief Fire Officer Jalaj Ghasia from the Municipal Corporation and Basni Police Station Officer Nitin Dave conducted an initial forensic examination of the gutted warehouse. Police Commissioner Anshuman Bhomia confirmed that the commercial outfit was functioning as a handicraft workshop where flammable chemicals and thinners had been stockpiled without standard regulatory authorizations, with official inquiries now underway to hold the property owners accountable.
