PHAGWARA: A massive fire that broke out at Jagdambe Industries mattress factory in Noorpur Dona village, Kapurthala, has now entered the forensic investigation stage, with an eight-member team collecting residue samples from the site to determine the cause of the blaze. The samples have been sent to a laboratory for analysis, raising hopes that the inquiry will also shed light on the fate of Ashwini Kumar, a factory worker reported missing since the incident.
The fire, which erupted on Thursday morning at around 8:15 am, raged for more than 35 hours before being brought under control. Fire brigades from Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nakodar, RCF, Sultanpur Lodhi and Kartarpur, supported by 44 firefighters, worked tirelessly to douse the flames, though the site continued to smolder into Saturday. The intensity of the blaze caused extensive damage to property and goods worth several lakhs of rupees.
Family members of Ashwini Kumar, also known as Ravi, allege that he was trapped inside the facility when the fire broke out. His wife, Rajvinder Kaur, claimed that her husband was working on the first floor near the plant section and could not escape. His father, Amarjit, employed as a security guard at the factory, confirmed that Ashwini had marked attendance on Thursday before the fire erupted.
The case has also drawn political attention, with senior BJP leader Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal demanding urgent relief and rehabilitation for the factory owner and workers. Grewal emphasized the severe financial hardship faced by those dependent on the factory and called for immediate government support to mitigate losses. He further urged authorities to conduct a transparent and comprehensive probe into the cause of the fire, including the possibility of a short circuit, and to ensure accountability.
Praising the swift efforts of Fire Officer Gurpreet Singh and his team, who managed to contain the fire before it spread further, Grewal noted that their dedication prevented even greater destruction. He assured that he would personally follow up with the administration to ensure timely relief reaches the victims, while reiterating solidarity with the affected families and workers.