Fire at Kakatiya Mega Textile Park claims two lives; investigation under way
Warangal: Two workers lost their lives after being trapped inside a lift while attempting to flee a blaze that broke out in the polyester staple fibre unit of Ganesha Ecopet Private Limited at the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park in Warangal district in the early hours of Thursday, according to a report in The Hindu.
The fire was first reported at about 2:10 a.m. in the Polyester Staple Fibre Plant area of the factory, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ganesha Ecosphere. Three fire tenders were rushed to the site and fire-fighting operations continued until around 5:30 a.m., when the blaze was brought under control, the report said.
- Victims identified as Vinod Prajapathi and Surya Prakash, both aged around 25.
- Preliminary information indicates the fire originated on the fourth floor after an alleged leak in an oil chamber connected to a manufacturing machine.
- Bodies discovered during combing operations at about 6:30 a.m. on the fifth-floor level of an immobilised lift.
Preliminary accounts suggest that the blaze began on the fourth floor, allegedly following a leak in an oil chamber linked to a manufacturing machine. The two workers, reported to be on the ground floor when they heard the commotion, are believed to have entered an elevator while trying to move to a higher floor to escape the smoke.
The lift reportedly stopped at the fourth-floor level, after which the men are believed to have moved up to the fifth floor. An automatic safety mechanism cut the power supply after the fire was detected, and the lift became immobilised with its door reportedly ajar. Smoke and fumes are said to have filled the area, and the two men were found unconscious inside the lift at the fifth-floor level when fire teams completed combing operations, the report added.
“The two workmen had lost their lives due to smoke inhalation after being trapped inside the lift,” a regulatory filing by Ganesha Ecosphere said, expressing regret and offering support to the families of the deceased.
The company confirmed the deaths in a regulatory filing and said it would provide all necessary support to the families. The exact cause of the fire and the circumstances that led to the entrapment remain under investigation, the report said.
| Detail | Reported information |
|---|---|
| Location | Ganesha Ecopet Pvt Ltd, Polyester Staple Fibre Plant, Kakatiya Mega Textile Park, Warangal district |
| Time fire reported | ~2:10 a.m. |
| Fire contained | ~5:30 a.m. |
| Bodies recovered | ~6:30 a.m., inside lift at fifth-floor level |
Local emergency responders and plant management face immediate scrutiny over safety protocols and the functioning of emergency egress systems. The incident highlights risks in large-scale textile and polymer processing units, where oil- and solvent-handling equipment can lead to rapid smoke and fume propagation if containment fails.
Warangal and neighbouring districts have in recent years attracted significant industrial investment, with textile parks and processing units positioned as economic engines for the region. The Kakatiya Mega Textile Park, located in Geesugonda mandal, is part of this push to scale textile manufacturing in the Telangana hinterland. Such accidents underscore the need for stringent on-site safety systems, regular maintenance of critical equipment and clear evacuation procedures for shift workers, particularly during night operations.
Authorities have described the matter as under investigation. More details, including the final cause of ignition and any safety lapses, will depend on the outcome of the official probe and the forensic analysis of equipment and plant records.
The loss of two young workers has prompted condolences from the company in its regulatory filing and will likely lead to inquiries by local authorities into compliance with industrial safety norms at the facility.
Further updates will follow as officials release findings from the ongoing investigation.
