Oil transformers fuel Doraha fire

Ludhiana: A powerful wind-driven blaze swept through a govt electricity compound in Doraha on Tuesday evening, igniting stockpiled power infrastructure and sending columns of toxic smoke over neighbouring residential zones.

The fire began in nearby trees before high winds pushed the flames into the switchyard of the state-run Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). The fire quickly intensified as it reached dozens of retired and active transformers, which were heavily laden with flammable oil.

“The fire spread within minutes and went completely out of control,” said witness Sharanjit Singh of Majra village.

Fire crews from Doraha, Samrala, and Ludhiana spent several hours battling the chemical-fuelled blaze. First responders said the massive oil reserves inside the equipment had reignited repeatedly, complicating containment efforts. No injuries or deaths were reported.

PSPCL executive engineer Daljit Singh acknowledged that a buildup of equipment had exacerbated the crisis, stating that an outside contractor had left a large number of oil-filled transformers piled in the yard for months.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the exact cause of the fire and are currently assessing the structural damage to the regional grid network.