The Mangolpuri factory fire that killed four workers in an outer Delhi footwear unit has exposed a chain of reported safety failures, including blocked stairs, a single exit, sealed windows and the absence of a fire safety certificate. Police are investigating the incident and searching for the factory owners.
The fire broke out during the night shift at New AM Products in Phase One of the Mangolpuri Industrial Area. According to a report by Jagran, four workers died while two others, identified as Vikas and Harendra, were injured. Both were receiving treatment at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital; their condition was reported to be stable, although Harendra was later described as being on ventilator support in an intensive care unit.
Vikas, a worker from Nalanda district in Bihar, told police that sacks of raw material used for making shoes were routinely kept on the factory staircase. He alleged that the obstruction had been brought to the attention of the factory owner and contractor several times, but workers were reprimanded when they complained. When smoke spread through the premises, workers allegedly found it difficult to use the staircase to reach safety.
The police investigation found that the factory had only one gate for entry and exit, with no separate emergency exit. Windows were fitted with glass, and the available escape routes were reportedly obstructed. These conditions meant that workers had limited options to leave the building after the fire began. A forensic team collected evidence from the site, while officers continued searching for factory owners Mukesh Bansal and Rohit Goyal, according to the report.
The unit also reportedly did not have a fire safety certificate. The report said the owner had begun the fire-clearance process around five years ago, but did not complete the directions issued by the fire department. No fresh application was submitted later, even after an adjoining plot was rented to expand the factory. The police are examining the cause of the fire and the safety arrangements at the premises.
An official cited in the report said industrial buildings larger than 250 square metres require a fire safety certificate. The requirements include adequate entry and exit routes, safe electrical wiring, fire alarms, sprinklers where necessary and secure storage of inflammable materials. The reported presence of raw-material sacks on a staircase directly raises questions about whether basic evacuation routes were being kept clear during operations.
The consequences have extended beyond the factory site. Families of workers Ashok Kumar and Lal Babu reportedly faced difficulty arranging transport for the bodies to their villages. The families of the injured workers are also concerned about treatment costs, recovery time and the loss of income. Vikas had worked at the factory for around three years with his cousin Ashok, and both were on the night shift when the fire broke out.
The case now turns on the findings of the police and forensic investigation, including the cause of the fire, the factory’s compliance history and whether responsibility can be established for the reported obstructions and missing safety provisions. The Raj Park police station investigation is being led by Inspector Om Prakash Mandal.
