RAHIMYARKHAN: A huge stock of bagasse caught nre in the largest sugar mills in the district, located at Jetha Bhutta town in Khanpur tehsil, some 56kms from here on Monday, causing panic among the residents of nearby localities.

According to Rescue 1122 sources, the fire erupted around 12.45pm in the stock of bagasse (dry fibrous remains of crushed sugarcane) which was spread in Hamza Sugar Mills near Chak 1-P on Shahi Road. It engulfed the whole stock spread over 43,560 square feet in no time.

On being informed of the blaze, Rescue 1122 firefighters and fire engines reached the spot immediately and extinguished the fire after hectic efforts.

According to locals, thefire started when the mills administration tried to run the boiler of the power plant where bagasse is used as fuel.

The mills administration also called labourers to join the firefighting efforts with the help of water pumps installed there to meet any emergency situation.

According to a chemical engineer of the mills,bagasse becomes inflammable in high temperatures because ofpresence of ethanol in it.

Panicked by the clouds of smoke and flames leaping out of the mills, many residents of nearby localities left their house to move to other places.

An old resident of the area, seeking anonymity, complained that the smoke caused by routineburning of huge quantities of bagasse and stench of molasses was a serious environmental issue, especially for those residing in the mills` vicinity.

He alleged that the residents of nearby villages and Basti Dhoom Sari were suffering from different diseases because of the pollution caused by mills,but the Environment Protection Department(EPD) officials have been looking the other way since long.

When Dawn contacted retired Col Sikandar, an official of the mills administration, for his version, he said that he was on a leave.

He said another staffer of the mills would contact this correspondent for giving the management`s version, which was awaited till the filing of the story.

EPD Assistant Director Sooraj Kumar, who has taken charge a day back, says he will look into the issue and send the department`s team to take environmental samples from the areatoassesthe situation.

`If sugar mills was found responsible for any environmental pollution the law will take its course,` he added.