Two workers die in Warangal factory fire; trapped in lift during escape
Two workers died of suspected smoke inhalation after being trapped inside a lift while trying to escape a fire at a polyester staple fibre manufacturing plant in Warangal district early Thursday. The incident occurred at Ganesha Ecopet Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ganesha Ecosphere, located in the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park.
The fire was reported at around 2.10 a.m. in the Polyester Staple Fibre Plant area. Three fire tenders were rushed to the facility, and fire-fighting operations continued until about 5.30 a.m., when the blaze was brought under control. Preliminary information suggests the fire first broke out on the fourth floor, allegedly following a leak in an oil chamber connected to a manufacturing machine.
The deceased workers have been identified as Vinod Prajapathi and Surya Prakash, both aged around 25. They were working on the ground floor when they heard the commotion and attempted to escape. According to initial accounts, the workers entered a lift to move to a higher floor. The lift stopped around the fourth floor, where they are believed to have noticed the flames and moved up to the fifth floor. Shortly thereafter, the power supply was cut off by an automatic safety mechanism triggered by the fire.
With the lift immobilised and its door reportedly ajar, the two men were unable to get out and are suspected to have remained trapped inside as smoke and fumes filled the area. The bodies were discovered around 6.30 a.m. during a combing operation after the fire-fighting teams had brought the fire under control. The workers were found unconscious inside the lift at the level of the fifth floor and were later declared dead.
In a regulatory filing on Friday, Ganesha Ecosphere confirmed the deaths, stating that the two workmen had lost their lives due to smoke inhalation after being trapped inside the lift. The company expressed regret over the incident and said it would provide all necessary support to the families of the deceased workers.
The exact cause of the fire and the circumstances that led to the workers becoming trapped are being investigated. The incident has raised questions about safety protocols at industrial facilities, particularly regarding emergency evacuation procedures and the maintenance of lifts during fire incidents. Authorities have ordered a detailed inquiry to determine whether any lapses contributed to the tragedy.
Industrial safety experts point out that lifts are not designed for evacuation during a fire, as they can act as chimneys for smoke and may stop functioning due to power failures. Proper training and clear signage for alternative escape routes are essential to prevent such incidents. The deaths highlight the need for stricter enforcement of safety norms in textile parks and manufacturing units across the country.
