Meerut: A fire broke out around 1am on Saturday at Mayur International, a candle manufacturing and packaging unit in Moradabad’s Krishna Colony adjoining the densely populated Sagar Sarai locality, destroying stock and raw material but causing no casualties as the neighbourhood was evacuated in time.The fire is suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit, officials said. District magistrate Rajendra Pensiya and SSP Satpal Antil reached the spot soon after the blaze was reported and remained there through the night as firefighters worked to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby houses and commercial establishments.Narrow lanes leading to the unit hampered the movement of fire tenders, forcing firefighters to park vehicles at a distance and lay a pipeline of nearly 700m to draw water and reach the site. More than 15 fire tenders from Moradabad and nearby districts were pressed into service, while residents of the surrounding area were moved out as a precaution. DM Moradabad Rajendra Pensiya told TOI, “I have asked the details of all commercial units operating in dense localities.”Antil said no casualties were reported because the area was cleared in time. The blaze was largely brought under control by 9am, though firefighting operations continued in the godown section for some more time. The building housed a factory, a godown and a residence. Officials said large quantities of packaging cardboard, wax and finished candle stock fuelled the blaze, and losses were estimated to run into lakhs of rupees.
