A major fire broke out at Singhal Industries Private Limited in Motibhoyan near Santej in Kalol taluka on Saturday, prompting workers and employees to flee the factory as flames spread rapidly through foam-sheet material. No casualties were reported, but the blaze remained uncontrolled until 7 pm despite a large emergency response involving fire teams from several parts of north Gujarat.
The fire sent thick black smoke into the sky, with the plumes visible as far as Kalol, according to Nav Gujarat Samay. Workers and other employees inside the factory ran out as soon as the fire started. The presence of foam sheets helped the flames assume a much larger form in a short period, the report said.
Kalol Fire Brigade in-charge fire officer Aslam Chauhan said a major call was declared after the incident. Three fire vehicles from Kalol, two from Kadi and two Gajaraj vehicles from Gandhinagar were deployed initially to fight the blaze. Fire vehicles were subsequently called from Mansa, Ahmedabad and Vadsar as the operation continued.
The scale of the response reflects the operational difficulty of containing a fire involving industrial materials inside a factory premises. Fire personnel remained engaged at the site through the evening, while officials worked to prevent the flames from spreading further. The report did not provide details of the factory’s production activity, the extent of property damage or whether neighbouring industrial units were affected.
Local administration officials, including the mamlatdar, reached the site after the incident was reported. Police personnel from the Santej police station were also sent immediately to the factory. Police Inspector S. R. Chaudhary said an investigation would be conducted to establish how the fire started.
Chaudhary said the authorities would seek assistance from the Forensic Science Laboratory to determine the precise cause of the blaze. The investigation is expected to establish the point of ignition and examine the circumstances under which the fire spread through the premises. No cause had been confirmed at the time of the report.
The incident puts attention on the readiness of industrial areas around Santej and Kalol to handle fast-moving factory fires, particularly where combustible materials are stored or used. In this case, the immediate evacuation of workers prevented loss of life, while the deployment of fire vehicles from multiple jurisdictions became necessary to sustain firefighting operations.
The police investigation and forensic examination will determine the cause of the fire. Authorities had not announced the extent of damage or any further action against the factory by the time of publication.
