Several dead in shoe factory fire

At least 13 killed; toll likely to rise. Blaze lasted 12 hrs

Several dead in shoe factory fire

At least 13 killed; toll likely to rise. Blaze lasted 12 hrs

Thirteen people were charred to death and 10 suffered severe burns after a fire broke out in a shoe manufacturing factory at Peeragarhi area in north west Delhi on Wednesday evening. The fire was reportedly caused by a short circuit at around 7 pm and it was extinguished at around 7 am on Thursday.

Losing battle? Delhi fire personnel try to douse the flames in a shoe
factory in Peeragarhi area in north west Delhi on Thursday. PIC/Mid day

"Though the fire was extinguished on Thursday morning, the fire officials could not go inside the four-storey building till afternoon as the temperature inside was quite high. Thirteen bodies were somehow taken out but none of them has been identified so far. Around 50 people were working inside the factory when the incident took place," said DCP (west), V Ranganathan.

A fire official said that around 25 fire tenders were pressed into the service to bring the blaze under control. The police said the factory is owned by Narender Singhla, a resident of Shivaji Park in Punjabi Bagh area.
"Initially, we had lodged an FIR under section 337 against the owner but now IPC section 304-A will also be added to it as 13 people have died," said a police official. A team of Forensic Science Laboratory also visited the spot.

"We heard people trapped inside shouting for help and waving their hands to show us their location. But we could not pull them out because there was an iron grill attached to the window and doors. As soon as we cut one of the doors of the factory, we were forced to rush back as thick flames emerged from inside," said Ravi Shanakr Sharma, an ambulance staffer who was on the spot.

Inquiry ordered
The government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the fire incident at a shoe factory at Peeragarhi.u00a0 The Chief Minister has directed Dy Commissioner (West) G S Meena to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within 15 days. Labour and Industries minister Ramakant Goswami also visited the site of the incident and inquired about the possibility of survivors in the tragedy. The CM has expressed grief over the incident and conveyed her condolences to the bereaved families.