By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, Dec 8, 2019: At least 43 people have died and around 50 wounded on December 8 after a major fire broke out in the Anaj Mandi area of central Delhi.
A call about the fire was received at 5:22 a.m. following which 30 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. During the rescue operation, more than 52 people trapped in the building were shifted to hospitals where at least 32 succumbed to injuries during treatment. Doctors say the death toll might rise.
The blaze swept through a cardboard factory where school bags, bottles and other materials were kept. “The building was also used to accommodate workers,” said a police officer.
Police have arrested the owner of the five story building situated on Rani Jhansi Road near Karol Bagh. Around 60-70 people were sleeping, most of them contractual laborers and factory workers.
The injured were shifted to the LNJP hospital, the RML Hospital and the Hindu Rao Hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the incident extremely horrific and said that authorities are providing all possible assistance.
“The fire in Delhi’s Anaj Mandi on Rani Jhansi Road is extremely horrific. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. Wishing the injured a quick recovery. Authorities are providing all possible assistance at the site of the tragedy,” he wrote on Twitter.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the incident as very tragic.
The fire was doused and rescue operation was on, according to senior fire official Sunil Choudhary.
The cause of the fire is not known, officials said, adding that more than 50 people were inside the factory when the fire broke out, they said. Thirty fire trucks were at the site and have taken the situation under control.
As casualties mounted quickly, a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also arrived at the site of the fire to help in rescue operations.
Delhi Fire service director Atul Garg said the fire “was big and we pressed in more than 50 fire tenders. Till 9:30 am we had shifted at least 56 people to hospital. All of them had fallen unconscious because of smoke. Our men got into the building and we pulled out occupants. They are in large number and were sleeping on different floors. Rescue operations are continuing and we are yet to figure out how many people were inside the building.”
The fire services director also said that they are yet to ascertain the reason behind fire. “Whether the building had firefighting equipment is a matter of probe,” he said.
Dellhi’s food and civil supplies minister Imran Hussain said an investigation will be conducted and action will be taken against whoever is responsible for the fire.