43 killed as fire breaks out in factory in Delhi,16 others injured
NEW DELHI : Forty-three people were killed when a fire broke out at a luggage manufacturing factory in a crowded area in north Delhi. Most of the people who died were labourers who were sleeping at the factory when the fire broke out at 5 am. Chaotic scenes were witnessed at the site of the fire incident with relatives and locals rushing to the area.
Monika Bhardwaj, deputy police commissioner of New Delhi’s north district, told AFP news agency that the death toll from the incident had jumped to “43, with 16 others still admitted at the local hospitals”.She said that a case has been registered under section 304 IPC against Rehan, the owner of the building. Bhardwaj added that Rehan is currently absconding.
“Fire department has completed the rescue work. There are no more bodies at the site,” said Bhardwaj. “We don’t yet know the cause of fire but know that it was aggravated because of plastic packing pouches, bags and other such material there.”
Ambulances and a firefighting vehicle at the scene of the deadly fire in in the capital. Fire officials said it was very difficult to access the dark, poorly lit premises in the commercial hub of Sadar Bazar in the older part of the capital.
The case has been transferred to the Crime Branch and forensics team is set to reach the spot to collect evidence. “43 people dead, injured admitted to LNJP & Lady Hardinge hospitals. Prima facie it appears short circuit caused fire. Plastic material at the spot caused a lot of smoke.
Earlier on Sunday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the spot of the tragic incident and ordered a magisterial inquiry into it. He also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to families who lost a member in the fire and additional assistance of Rs 1 lakh to those who were injured.
Mr Kejriwal also went to the LNJP and Lady Hardinge hospitals where the rescued people are currently undergoing treatment. The expense of medical treatment of those injured will be borne by the government,” Mr Kejriwal said after visiting the site of the fire tragedy.
PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter to express his condolence with the bereaved families. He said that his thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones in the fire accident. He has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs each from PMNRF for next of kin of those who have lost their lives in the incident. PM has also approved Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured in the fire.
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari also visited the spot and expressed grief over the incident. The BJP MP announced that his party will give a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the deceased.
According to sources over 60 people have been rescued by the fire fighting officials. Speaking to media, Deputy Fire Chief Officer Sunil Choudhary said: “A fire broke out in a 600 sq feet plot. It was very dark inside. It is a factory where school bags, bottles and other materials were kept.”
A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has reached at the incident spot to help in the relief and rescue operations. The factory was operating in an area, whose narrow and congested lanes are lined with many small manufacturing and storage units.
“Most who’ve died were sleeping when the fire broke out and died due to asphyxiation,” Sadar Bazar’s assistant commissioner of police was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.
Preliminary investigations suggest short circuit as the cause of the fire. “Prima facie, the fire seems to have occurred due to short circuit. (With Agency Inputs ).
