Hitachi's unit in Guj inoperable after fire

"The unit no 2 at Kadi plant, manufacturing air conditioners, has been gutted in fire (which occurred last night) and is inoperable now," Hitachi's Executive Director (Corporate Affairs) Amit Doshi said.

There was no report of any casualty, he said.

According to state fire officials, 22 fire fighting vehicles, including 11 from Ahmedabad, had rushed to the spot and battled for around 10 hours to douse the blaze.

"The time has come to think about review of industrial sites in rural areas of Gujarat," Ahmedabad's Deputy Fire Officer Rajesh Bhatt said.

"The fire at industrial site in Kadi has brought to fore the requirement for having on the spot water refilling resources as per the requirements of fire fighting vehicles," he said.

The major problem in controlling the fire at Kadi was vehicles had to be sent for refilling to other locations, and by the time they arrived back the cooling done had again turned into blaze, he said.