Badaun, UP – A massive fire broke out at the Bharat Mint & Allied Chemicals mentha oil factory in Ujhani area late Wednesday night following a severe storm and high-velocity winds. The blaze erupted after the factory’s chimney collapsed, sparking a chain of explosions and igniting highly flammable chemicals stored on the premises.
Spread across more than 50 bighas, the factory was almost completely gutted. Eyewitnesses said the flames and thick smoke were visible from over 4 kilometers away.
The situation turned chaotic as around 100 nitrogen cylinders exploded inside the factory, sending shockwaves through nearby villages. Over 250 workers were present during the incident; many managed to escape, but several sustained injuries. One individual was seriously injured and admitted to the district medical college, while others were treated at local health centers.
As a precautionary measure, authorities evacuated the nearby village of Kooda Narsinghpur, home to around 20,000 people, fearing further explosions. Rescue operations continued through the night, with over 50 fire engines and more than 100 firefighters battling the blaze for several hours.
District Magistrate Avnish Kumar Rai and SSP Alok Priyadarshi were among the senior officials who reached the scene to oversee operations. Though early reports feared fatalities, officials later confirmed there were no deaths, though livestock perished in related fires that also destroyed around 100 houses in nearby villages like Jamni and Sonbudhi.
Authorities have begun assessing the economic and structural losses, which are expected to be substantial. The incident forms part of a string of fire-related tragedies in the district, all believed to be triggered by extreme weather conditions that night.
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