A Delhi factory fire killed four workers and left two others hospitalised after a blaze broke out in the basement of a shoe factory in Mangolpuri Industrial Area Phase-1 on Friday night, with officials saying all four doors of the building were shut when the workers tried to escape.
The fire began at around 9:32 pm while workers were having dinner on the first floor. Vikas, 22, who was working as a helper at the factory, told The Indian Express that the smoke spread rapidly and that workers found themselves unable to use the exit. He said the guard may have locked the door and left, although police are investigating the circumstances.
The deceased have been identified as Ashok, 25, Harihar, 40, Lal Babu, 38, and Prem Chand, 50. Police registered a case of culpable homicide on Saturday and apprehended two men in connection with the incident. One of them, Ashok, 47, was identified as the contractor for the labourers. The second, Suresh Chand, 47, is the father of the two building owners, who have not yet been traced, according to officers.
Officials said the building comprised a basement, a ground floor and three upper floors, along with a partial structure on the fourth floor. Six people were trapped after the fire began. One person was rescued from the third floor, while five were found in a room on the fourth floor. All five were unconscious, and four were declared dead after being taken to hospital. Two survivors remain under treatment.
Vikas is receiving treatment in the emergency ward of Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Mangolpuri. The other survivor, Harinder, has been admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit. Vikas told the newspaper that he had completed a 9 am to 9 pm shift and had planned to return to work after dinner, as workers sought additional employment during the period of higher demand between August and December.
He said the fire and smoke overwhelmed the first floor quickly. After realising that they could not leave through the exits, the workers tried to reach the terrace. Vikas said he put a piece of cloth in his mouth and poured water over it in an attempt to protect himself from the smoke.
Vikas had arrived in Delhi from Bihar in search of work and had joined the factory about a month earlier. He earned around Rs 15,000 a month and performed several tasks in addition to his role as a helper. His aunt, Rekha, told The Indian Express that he first tried calling his wife during the fire but could not reach her. He then contacted a cousin, who provided her number, and she and other relatives went to the factory.
Other workers said they narrowly avoided being inside the building when the fire started. Ramakant, 42, said he had intended to work another shift after his regular hours but went home for dinner after his wife insisted. When he returned, he saw fire tenders and smoke at the site. Manoj, another worker, said people were shouting and attempting to escape but were unable to get out.
Police are investigating how the fire started in the basement, how it spread through the building and what led to the exits being shut. The investigation will also establish the exact sequence of events and the responsibility of those connected to the factory and the building.
