Nongpoh, Jan 13: A mattress manufacturing factory located at Amjok village in Byrnihat was gutted by a massive inferno on Tuesday afternoon after a foam-cutting machine suddenly caught fire while in operation, triggering panic among workers and nearby residents.
According to information gathered, the incident occurred at around 3pm shortly after the workers had resumed work following their lunch break. While foam was being cut, one of the machines suddenly overheated and caught fire. The flames spread rapidly and soon engulfed the entire factory, forcing workers and nearby residents to flee the area for safety.
The factory, identified as Ummadat Foam Industries, is owned by Adarsh Jhunjhunwala. The owner stated that the fire spread too quickly for anyone to control. He added that the damage and losses are extensive, although an exact assessment has not yet been made.
Soon after the incident, personnel from the Byrnihat Police, along with fire and emergency services from both Meghalaya and Assam, rushed to the spot and worked to douse the flames. Local residents also actively assisted in the firefighting efforts.
The headman of Amjok village, Raju Jyrwa, expressed his gratitude to the villagers who immediately came forward to help control the fire before the arrival of the fire brigade. He also appreciated the timely response of the fire services, police, and the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Umling, who reached the site without delay.
An investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the fire and assess the total extent of the losses.
