A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday at a garment manufacturing unit located in Maharashtra’s Solapur district, claiming the lives of eight people, including the factory owner, three members of his family, and four workers from another family. The tragic incident took place in the MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) area at Central Textile Mills, which is a hub for textile manufacturing in the region.

The fire reportedly began between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m., suspected to have been caused by a short circuit. According to preliminary accounts, two workers were present on the ground floor, working at the time. One of them noticed the short circuit and tried to alert others by rushing upstairs to inform the owner. However, in the few critical minutes it took to act, the fire rapidly engulfed the building, fueled by stacks of cotton, a highly flammable material commonly found in garment mills.

Among the eight victims were:

• Usman Hasanbhai Mansuri (80) – the owner of the factory

• His son Anas Hanif Mansuri (25)

• Daughter in law Shifa Anas Mansuri (20)

• Grandson Yusuf Anas Mansuri (1.5 years old)

• Mehtab Syed Bagwan (45) – a worker

• His wife Ashabanu Mehtab Bagwan (38)

• Son Salman Mehtab Bagwan (24)

• Daughter Hina Mehtab Bagwan (26)

This accident has deeply shaken the local industrial community, as several factories operate in proximity within the MIDC zone. The victims' inability to escape was attributed to suffocation caused by smoke and heat, according to Solapur District Collector Kumar Ashirwad, who added that a case of accidental death has been registered for now.

Police authorities, led by MIDC Solapur Senior Police Inspector Pramod Waghmare, confirmed that the fire persisted for over 13 hours, with intense flames that took five to six hours just to bring under control. The two night watchmen posted outside the building attempted to wake residents and workers inside but were unsuccessful. The two workers who had discovered the short circuit also succumbed to the flames after attempting to alert others.

The Central Textile Mills building, like many others in the area, was filled with flammable materials like cotton yarn, which contributed to the speed and scale of the fire's spread. The fact that most of the workers were asleep when the fire broke out made the situation even more tragic, as they were unable to react in time.

This horrific fire has highlighted the urgent need for fire safety audits and better emergency preparedness in industrial zones, particularly in high risk industries like textiles, where raw materials are prone to ignition. There is also growing concern around the enforcement of building codes, availability of fire exits, alarm systems, and emergency training for both workers and management.

Local authorities are now conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the blaze, evaluate possible violations of safety regulations, and propose measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future. Compensation and support for the victims’ families have also become an important topic of discussion at both state and district levels.

The Maharashtra government has faced increasing pressure to conduct a statewide audit of industrial safety compliance, especially in densely packed factory clusters like Solapur’s MIDC area. Firefighters and emergency services have also called for better infrastructure, including more accessible hydrants, specialized equipment, and faster response protocols to deal with fires in textile based industries.

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