A fire broke out in late March in the spray finishing department of a tannery in the Jajmau area of Kanpur, triggering panic among workers but resulting in no injuries, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred at a facility in Nai Chungi, where a short circuit in electrical wiring ignited flammable materials stored in the spray section. Thick smoke quickly filled the department, prompting workers to evacuate the premises immediately.
Fire brigade teams responded quickly and brought the blaze under control after what officials described as strenuous. Chief Fire Officer Deepak Sharma confirmed that the fire was extinguished in time and no casualties were reported.
Recurring incidents in Jajmau cluster
The latest fire adds to a pattern of similar incidents in Jajmau, one of India’s leather-processing hubs and home to hundreds of tanneries. Recent reports highlight repeated fires in tannery spray finishing departments, frequently linked to electrical faults and the presence of combustible chemicals and leather stock.
In December 2025, a blaze at a Jajmau tannery destroyed stored leather after a suspected short circuit, while another incident caused significant damage to machinery and materials under similar circumstances.
Authorities have previously warned that delayed responses in such environments could lead to major disasters, particularly due to the presence of flammable chemicals that can trigger explosions.
The recurrence of fires has raised questions over aging electrical infrastructure, safety compliance and enforcement across Kanpur’s tannery sector. While inspections and audits have been announced in the past, incidents continue to occur, underscoring persistent gaps in industrial safety practices.
Although the latest blaze was contained without injury, it highlights the ongoing risks within high-density tannery clusters, where electrical faults and hazardous materials remain a dangerous combination.
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