43 killed in early morning blaze at Delhi illegal factory
250 huts gutted 17 killed
NEWDELHI: At least 43 people were killed and dozens injured when a massive blaze swept through a four-storey building housing multiple manufacturing units in Delhi’s Rani Jhansi Road early Sunday morning, police said.
The enormous blaze, causes of which were yet to be ascertained by authorities, etches itself among the worst in the long number of fire tragedies in Delhi. In recent history, only the 1997 Uphaar theatre fire that left 59 dead and the 1999 Kala Kuan chemical factory fire that left 57 dead, killed more people in Delhi.
Hours after the tragedy, the Delhi government ordered a probe into the fire and sought a detailed report within seven days.
“It is a very sad incident. I have ordered a magisterial inquiry into it. Compensation ₹10 lakh each to be given to families of those dead and ₹1 lakh each t o t hose i njured. The expense of medical treatment of those injured to be borne by the government,” Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said after visiting the site of the accident.
Delhi Fire Service (DFS) director Atul Garg said the fire started around 5am in a building where around 60 people were sleeping, most of them contractual labourers and factory workers. All victims were men.
AUGUST 6: 6 killed, 10 injured — Fire breaks
out at a multistorey building in Zakir Nagar JULY 13: 3 killed — Rubber factory in Jhilmil
industrial area catches fire
MARCH 26: 2 minors killed — Fire breaks out
at a four-storey building in Shaheen Bagh
FEBRUARY 13: — Massive
blaze erupts at a slum cluster Paschim Puri FEBRUARY 12: — Massive blaze engulfs a budget hotel in Karol Bagh, which results in one of the worst fire tragedies in Delhi
APRIL 13, 2018: 4 killed — A house in Kohat Enclave catches fire. All deceased are members of a family
JANUARY 20, 2018: 17 killed — A firecracker
unit in Bawana industrial area catches fire
NOVEMBER 20, 2011: 14 killed, 30 injured — In east Delhi’s Nandnagri, a fire breaks out during a function at a community hall
MAY 31, 1999: 57 killed — A massive blaze
engulfed Lal Kuan chemical market complex
JUNE 13, 1997: 59 killed, over 100 injured — A massive blaze engulfs Uphaar theatre in Green Park during the screening of ‘Border’