Oil mill gutted in Thane

MUMBAI - A major fire erupted Tuesday in an oil mill in the adjoining district of Thane but there were no casualties, police said.

The blaze broke out around 5.30 a.m. at the Liberty Oil Mills in Bamne village, around 90 km from here, and quickly spread in the entire complex, including four-storied buildings and warehouses, police said.

Around 20 fire tenders battled the leaping flames as vast stocks of edible oil burnt furiously, throwing up clouds of black smoke. The cause of the fire is not known.

Chief Fire Officer Suresh Shinde said fire engines rushed to the scene from Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Nashik.

Shinde said thousands of residents of the area had been told to be ready to move out of the village.

The company produces several brands of edible oil and other food items with brand names like Anchor, Amber, Chanda and Sunday.