Tragic Blaze at Chocolate Factory Near Ahmedabad Leaves Worker Dead, Property Worth Lakhs Gutted

AHMEDABAD — A devastating fire broke out at the Leamak Company chocolate manufacturing facility on the Ahmedabad-Bavla highway on Friday, taking the life of a young worker from Madhya Pradesh and causing extensive damage to the plant. Emergency crews battled the inferno for nearly two hours on Saturday, pumping roughly one lakh litres of water before bringing the flames under control.

Cardboard Stock Fuels Third-Floor Inferno

The fire erupted on the third floor of the manufacturing unit, where finished chocolates were processed and packaged. Fire officials pointed to a massive stockpile of cardboard packaging materials stored on the upper level as the primary trigger for the rapid spread of the blaze.

Thick smoke and rising flames panicked staff inside the building, prompting a hasty evacuation. Fire tenders from nearby Sanand and Bavla were immediately dispatched, joined shortly after by four appliances sent from the Prahladnagar Fire Station in Ahmedabad.

"The fire originated on the third floor, where chocolate production was underway," confirmed Manubhai Solanki, Fire Officer at Prahladnagar Fire Station. "Heavy cardboard accumulation accelerated the burn rate, engulfing a major portion of the premises before our teams could isolate the area."

Discovery of Burnt Body Raises Safety Questions

While most employees cleared the building safely, firefighters carrying out cooling operations made a grim discovery inside the burnt shell of the third floor: the charred body of a male worker hailing from Madhya Pradesh.

Emergency medical services were summoned, and the victim's body was transferred for formal post-mortem procedures. Police and forensic teams are working to establish his identity and determine why he was unable to evacuate alongside his co-workers. No other casualties or trapped personnel were reported.

Investigators Target Fire Safety Compliance

Financial losses are projected to run into several lakhs of rupees, with machinery, raw ingredients, and structural elements severely damaged. A comprehensive assessment is underway to quantify the precise financial impact.

Local authorities have opened an investigation into the origin of the fire. As part of the inquiry, officials will audit the factory’s fire safety certifications, evaluate the operational status of installed suppression systems, and review the building's emergency exit protocols.