A major fire broke out in a plastics scrapyard at Jajmau town here Tuesday, police said. No casualties were reported in the blaze which firefighters managed to bring under control.
"It was a major fire. It could have resulted in a major tragedy if the blaze had spread to other establishments in its vicinity," police inspector S.K. Singh told reporters in Kanpur, some 80 km from Lucknow.
The fire engulfed the scrapyard that also housed a plastic recycling unit, following which six fire tenders were pressed into service to fight the blaze, he said.
"It was after over four hours of the operation that the firefighters managed to bring the situation under control. The flames are yet to be doused completely," the officer added.
According to the police, a few workers who were trapped inside the scrapyard were rescued with the help of locals in the densely populated area.
The owner of the scrapyard is absconding after the incident, he said.