A fire at a shoe factory in northwest Delhi has tragically resulted in the deaths of four workers and injuries to two others. The incident occurred around 9.30 pm on Friday, in Phase I of the Mangolpuri Industrial Area. Following the fire, the police have summoned the factory owner for questioning as part of their ongoing investigation.

Emergency services responded promptly, deploying 31 fire tenders to the scene. The blaze was eventually brought under control by 6 am on Saturday. Fire officials reported that the fire originated in the basement of the building, which comprised a ground floor, three upper floors, and a partially constructed fourth floor.

During the rescue operation, six workers were located inside the building. One worker was found unconscious on the third floor, while five others were discovered in a room on the fourth floor. All six were transported to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, where four were declared deceased shortly after arrival.

Victims Identified and Condition of Injured

The deceased workers have been identified as Ashok, aged 25, from Nalanda in Bihar; Harihar, aged 40, a resident of Mangolpuri; Lal Babu, aged 38; and Prem Chand, aged 50. The two injured individuals have been named as Vikas and Harinder. Hospital officials reported that Vikas is in stable condition and receiving oxygen support, while Harinder is currently on a ventilator in the intensive care unit.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Vikram Singh confirmed that the factory owner has been summoned for questioning. Investigators are also interviewing contractors and workers to ascertain the total number of employees present at the time of the fire. A first information report has been registered at Raj Park police station, citing multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to negligent conduct and culpable homicide.

Fire officer Paras Kumar stated that upon arrival, firefighters found the basement engulfed in flames, with smoke rapidly spreading to the upper floors. After controlling the fire, the firefighters took measures to cool the building and prevent any potential flare-ups while continuing their inspections of the affected areas.

Concerns Raised by Relatives and Local Workers

Relatives of the deceased have expressed their concerns regarding the lack of communication from the factory owner following the incident. Mukhdev, a relative of Harihar, mentioned that the family was instructed to come to the hospital to identify the bodies after learning about the incident. He noted that attempts to contact the factory owner were unsuccessful, as his phone was reportedly switched off.

Umesh Prasad, a relative of Ashok, recounted that Ashok had spoken to his family shortly before the fire. He indicated that Ashok had mentioned a fire at the factory just minutes before their last communication. Local workers have also alleged that the factory had inadequate exits, which hindered the ability of employees on the upper floors to evacuate as smoke filled the building. These claims are still under investigation.

In response to the tragedy, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed her condolences and directed officials to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured, support for the affected families, and prompt relief efforts. She stated that officials are closely monitoring the situation as investigations continue into the cause of the fire and the safety measures in place at the factory.

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