At least 17 people were killed, including seven women and 10 men, and several others were injured after a major fire broke out at a cracker storage factory in outer Delhi’s Bawana industrial area on Saturday evening. The fire, under grade four category, also engulfed other factories in its neighbourhood. However, those killed were working in the cracker factory.
According to the fire department, they received a call around 6:20 pm, about a fire mishap at the F-block of Bawana Industrial area. Following which half-a-dozen fire tenders were rushed to the spot and finally the fire was doused and brought under control. Some of the bodies have been charred beyond recognition and they are being identified, said the officials.
“After reaching the spot it was found out that fire had broken out at the basement ground and first floor of a cracker storage factory. The fire was of a make four category. Seeking the condition of the fire more fire tenders were rushed to the spot,” said Atul Garg, Chief Fire Officer.
Images from the factory where the fire took place were heart wrenching, showing families including women hugging each other while being charred to death as the fire spread from the basement to the other floor. Many in order to save their life, climbed up to the adjacent building to save their lives.
Cause of fire is yet to be ascertained but sources claimed that it began at the basement and soon spread to other areas since there were crackers placed in the factory. The explosion was massive killing many. According to the area SDM the factory was being run illegally.
The police has registered an FIR under Section 304 (Culpible homicide not amounting to murder) against the owner of the factory.
Though till the report was filed about 19 bodies were reportedly recovered from the factory, the police officials stated that with the cooling process would get over, more bodies might be recovered.
“Four bodies were pulled out initially, who seemed to have died out of suffocation. Around twelve of them were recovered later who died while trying to jump out of the windows of the building. Teams from the NDRF and CAT have also been deployed for emergency evacuation,” said Rajneesh Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Of Police (Rohini District).
Officials stated that the cooling process is over and more bodies might be recovered. The bodies were taken to the nearby hospital. “We are here to receive the bodies at the mortuary. However, around 19
bodies are expected to come,” said Punita Mahajan, Medical Superintendent of BSA
hospital. Garg said that they received 3 calls from Bawana - Sector 1 a plastic factor, 2nd from Sector 5 cracker storage and third from Sector 3 a furnace oil storage. All casualties are from Sector 5 fire. Fire is completely under control now. We recovered 19 bodies so far.
North Delhi Mayor Preety Agarwal has rushed to the spot, a senior NDMC official said. “The factory falls in the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) area. North Delhi Mayor Preety Agarwal has rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation,” the official said.