NEW DELHI: A massive fire broke out at a factory around on Saturday morning which killed three workers, including two women, in northeast Delhi’s Jhilmil Industrial area.While the factory supervisor said that most of the 70 workers were rescued, the police claimed that there were “about 12 people” who were evacuated and the three victims — identified as Sangeeta, 46; Manju, 50; and Shoeb, 19 — were stuck inside the building. Fire-fighters reached the spot soon after a SOS call was received at 9.25 am.
A fire official said 30 tenders were “immediately” rushed to the industrial area located in Shahdara. “The blaze was doused by 2.50 pm,” he said.
According to police, the factory manufactured brass taps apart from rubber and plastic products, which are suspected to have contributed to the intensity of the blaze. The factory operated from a building that has a ground floor and three upper floors.
Later, the Delhi Police said that the information of the fire was received at 9.17 am at the GTB Police Station. “Immediately, local police and fire tender vehicles reached at the spot. There were brass metals, and plastic packing materials lying on the floor of the factory,” Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara, Meghna Yadav said. “The fire suddenly escalated and heavy smoke engulfed all the three floors of the factory.”
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During the rescue operation, the police and fire officials rescued 12 workers from inside the factory. Three were trapped in heavy smoke, the DCP said, adding they were rescued and rushed to GTB Hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead.
A case under Section 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC was registered. In January last year, 17 people were killed in a blaze at a firecracker storage unit in Bawana.
Elder brother informed Younger sibling of fire
Manju is survived by her husband, three daughters and two sons, including 17-year-old Manish, who works at the same factory. “I once visited her factory just to take a round,” said Suraj, 16, the other son. “I got a call from Bhaiya (brother) saying that mother has got injured and has been admitted at the GTB hospital. I quickly reached and then got by this tragic news,” he added. Manju left the house early everyday to catch a train at 7.50 am from Loni to reach her workplace in the Jhilmil industrial area. According to her relatives, her husband “is an alcoholic and doesn’t do anything”. The 50-year-old woman from Loni was engaged in packing. Now with Manju gone, her husband and his daughters are yet to figure out how to carry on with this loss. Undertandably, someone from the family has to pitch in.
Victim’s name saved as ‘Humara Rajkumar’
Shoeb’s mother Fatima sat at the mortuary, howling over the son’s death. “I have lost my only son. How will I survive without him? Why didn’t the factory owners get killed? Why did my son die?” she screamed. Barely 19, Shoeb was involved in making cash memos. While Shoeb’s mother is a housewife, his father Wahib works as a tailor. He has saved his son’s name as “Humara Rajkumar in his phone”. “We got a call from Wasim’s (the factory owner’s) brother-in-law. Wasim’s wife who lives in our neighbourhood got him this job,” Wahib said. “My wife is a heart patient. What will do now? She hasn’t been able to take it and has been crying ever since his death.” The family moved from Aligarh to Delhi 22 years ago. Shoeb studied BA through correspondence. He is survived by his parents and a younger sister.