The die-cast components facility of Ashley Alteams India Pvt. Ltd., a joint venture between Ashok Leyland and Finland-based Alteams Oy, at Azhinjalpattu village within SIPCOT complex in Cheyyar town in Tiruvannamalai, was gutted on Saturday, resulting in thick smoke in the area.
Police said that it was around 6 a.m. when a staffer at the facility switched on the chemical plant section in the facility, he noticed thick smoke coming from one section of the plant where tonnes of chemicals, machinery, copper and other raw materials to make high-pressure die-cast components were kept.
Immediately, security guards and other staff tried to douse the fire, but the fire spread to the entire chemical plant, which spread around 5,000 sq ft. Based on the alert, a team of firefighters from Cheyyar SIPCOT and Dusi police rushed to the spot. Before the firefighters could reach the spot, the fire spread to the entire plant area. Additional fire tenders were roped in from neighbouring Kancheepuram, Cheyyar and Vandavasi towns.
After nearly four hours of hard labour, fire fighters doused the fire around 10 a.m. The entire plant was completely gutted. Tonnes of chemicals, machinery, raw materials estimated to cost around Rs 25 crore were destroyed in the accident.
Residents in the area complained of severe eye irritation especially among children and senior citizens due to smoke from the plant, which has been working for a decade. A case was registered by Dusi police. Police said an electrical short circuit from the main electrical board might be the reason for the incident. A probe is underway.
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