43 die in Delhi’s Anaj Mandi blaze

New Delhi, December 8

At least 43 persons were killed when a massive fire ripped through a four-storey building housing illegal manufacturing units in north Delhi’s congested Anaj Mandi area on Sunday morning, in the second deadliest blaze in the national capital.

Almost all deceased were migrant labourers hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Police and fire department officials said many of the fatalities occurred due to suffocation as the victims were sleeping when the fire started around 5 am on the second floor of the building, which lacked fire safety clearance and was packed with combustible material like cardboards.

It took over 150 firefighters five hours to douse the blaze. As many as 63 persons were pulled out. While 43, including one minor, died, 16 were injured. Two fire department personnel also suffered injuries, officials said.

Those waken up by the fire, suspected to have been triggered by a short-circuit, struggled to escape as the exit routes were partially blocked and several windows were found sealed.

Police have arrested the owner, Rehan, and his manager, Furkan, and registered a case under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire) of the IPC. The case has been transferred to the Crime Branch.

The Delhi Government ordered a magisterial probe into the tragedy, the worst fire accident in the national capital since the 1997 Uphaar cinema blaze that claimed 59 lives. It has sought a report within seven days. 

Officials said 30 fire tenders were rushed after the blaze was first reported at 5.22 am in the Anaj Mandi building, which housed manufacturing units for glass items, cardboards, handbags and other goods.

The narrow lanes of Anaj Mandi area made rescue operations difficult. Some injured were carried to the hospital in auto-rickshaws. The injured included two minors. PM Narendra Modi and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal mourned the loss of life. — PTI

Victims from UP, Bihar

Almost all victims were migrant labourers from Bihar and UP, working at illegal manufacturing units in the building

Four-storey ‘death trap’

The four-storey structure was packed with combustible material and had only one door

Firefighter saves 11

Firefighter Rajesh Shukla was hailed as a hero after he pulled 11 persons out of the fire. He entered the building 12 times 

Relief pours in for kin

PM Modi and CM Kejriwal announced Rs 2L and Rs 10L ex gratia, respectively, for kin of dead, besides Rs 5L by Delhi BJP