Three women, working at the cracker storage unit in Bawana industrial area where fire broke out on Saturday in which seventeen people were killed, defied death. Thirty minutes before the fire engulfed the two storeyed building, leelavati, Seema and Durgesh left the factory for personal reasons. While one had to feed her younger children, the other had to teach her seven-year-old boy. On the other hand, the third woman served tea and left for home.
Standing outside their homes in the Metro Vihar phase 1, Holambi Kalan, leelavati told The Pioneer, “I was assigned to make small chemical paper crackers at the basement of the factory. Since it was Saturday, I asked to be let free as my two children were waiting at home. I had to feed my two-year-old girl.”
Showing her hands that has turned yellow as she handled chemicals without any protection, leelavati said, “When the factory started, the supervisor told us that the women will make colours for Holi but gradually, we were given plastic and chemicals to make phook bomb. My eyes used to water while my hands used to burn due to the chemical. But we were left with no choice and continued to work at the factory,” leelavati said.
Seema, another 30-year- old worker at the factory, said there were no facilities for us, in place. “We were not provided with gloves. They lured the workers with food items like samosa and kachori. They told us that if we worked overtime, we will be paid Rs 10,000. It means a lot but it was so difficult to work amidst the chemicals. For the better future, I thought of staying back but I remembered that I had to help my seven year old son finish his homework,” she said.
Durgesh, another worker said, “I used to supply tea to the factory workers. like everyday, the workers had assembled at the unit. While a few were present at the basement, most of the workers were at the first and second floors. After giving them tea, I left. One hour later, I got to know that the factory caught fire.”
leelavati said, “I thank my stars that I returned home early on Saturday. If I had stayed back and worked overtime, my children would have been left motherless. It is hard to think how I and few other women survived the fire.”
While these three women had a narrow escape from the Bawana blaze, Mahipal, husband of Sukhda, one of the deceased, hoped that she was alive until he saw her body on Sunday morning.