Four killed, two injured in massive fire at Delhi shoe factory

NEW DELHI: Four people were killed and two others injured after a massive fire broke out at a shoe factory in Mangolpuri Industrial Area Phase-I in northwest Delhi on Friday night.

The fire was reported at around 9.30 pm. The Delhi Fire Service dispatched 20 fire tenders to the spot after receiving an emergency call at approximately 9.32 pm.

Six people were rescued from inside the factory in an unconscious condition and rushed to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Mangolpuri. Four were declared dead at the hospital, while the other two are undergoing treatment, police said.

According to fire officials, the blaze originated in the basement of the footwear manufacturing unit. Heavy smoke spread through the building, trapping workers on the upper floors. One person was rescued from the staircase on the third floor, while five others were brought out from the fourth floor.

Fire personnel managed to contain the blaze within the basement. The fire was later extinguished and cooling operations were initiated.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Vikram Singh said the factory owner had been summoned. Police are also questioning the contractor and workers to establish how many labourers were present at the time of the incident.

The identities of the deceased were yet to be officially confirmed in the initial reports. The cause of the fire is under investigation.