A tragic fire at a mattress factory in Gehri Buttar village, Bathinda, claimed the lives of three young labourers from Shergarh village on Tuesday night. The deceased, identified as Lakhveer Singh, Narinder Singh, and Vijay Singh, were among seven workers present when the fire broke out, which was fueled by a large stock of inflammable materials. Eyewitnesses reported that the fire spread rapidly, leading to the collapse of the factory's shed and necessitating the deployment of at least 65 fire trucks from various districts to control the blaze over a six-hour struggle. A preliminary investigation suggests a potential short circuit may have ignited the fire, although authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to confirm the cause. Four workers were successfully rescued from the factory, while the bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination. The incident has raised concerns about safety regulations in local factories, prompting a call for stricter oversight.