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The alcohol-based chemicals worked as fuel for the fire. Apparently, the ink unit had a huge stock of alcohol. The alcohol-based chemicals were stored in underground and over ground storage tanks and also in drums.

The building structure as well as most of the chemicals was destroyed in the inferno. Different types ink, chemicals, machinery raw material and other goods were gutted at Vyankatesh Udyog situated at MIDC, Hingna Road in the fire. The massive blaze also engulfed an adjacent cardboard making factory.

Fortunately, no casualty was reported as the factory was closed due to nation-wide lockdown. A team of fire-fighters with seven fire tenders from Fire & Emergency Services of Nagpur Municipal Corporation were summoned to douse the flames.

Figure 1- The massive blaze engulfed two manufacturing units at Hingna MIDC, Nagpur

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Reportedly, fire-fighting equipment with sufficient number of foam extinguishers was already installed at Vyankatesh Udyog. However, it could not be used as the factory was completely closed in view of country-wide lockdown due to corona virus pandemic. The material like Flash Point of Ink is 24.83 Deg. Cel., which is considered as highly flammable liquid.  In such cases Gas Based Fire Extinguishers, Gas Suppression Systems and Dry Powder Type Fire Extinguishers are often used. However, these measures are usually not effective in case of highly inflammable substances like ink or in case of extraordinary scenarios.

Aarush Fire Systems, a Pune based company; strongly recommend Foam Based System like Foam Sprinkler System is suitable for manufacturing units that produce highly inflammable material, specifically ink. The reason being, though extinguishers are suitable for Initial stage of fire; for second and third stage, sprinkler supported fire fighting systems are more effective. Categorically, in case of Ink fire; for second and third stage, there are two options. The first option is the Gas Suppression System. But this system is not only very costly to install, but also comes with high maintenance cost.

The Second option is Foam Sprinkler System. This system is not only cost effective to install, bus also comes with negligible maintenance cost, when compared with gas suppression systems. On the top of that, the coverage of Foam Sprinkler System is higher than that of gas suppression system.

Hence, had the foam based sprinkler system been installed at this ink factory of Vyankatesh Udyog Limited; the devastating inferno could have been contained effectively and the resultant damage could have also been avoided or at least mitigated.