Delhi Tragedy: At Least 43 People Dead After Fire Breaks Out In Factory In Anaj Mandi

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For over 80 workers living in the five-storey building that was used as factories and warehouses in Anaj Mandi Gali in north Delhi, Saturday night was a time to relax with friends and plan their Sunday, a day off from the gruelling routine of 12-15 hours of work.



Most of them were asleep by 2am, huddled in whatever space they could find – on sheets spread on cold floor, in congested spaces between machines, and on top of packed goods in small rooms. These were the same spaces where they worked on machines, cooked and ate every day. The workers were used to waking up late on Sundays. But this time, for most occupants, Sunday never came. For others, the night gave way to a nightmare.

HOW IT STARTED:
By most accounts, a fire broke out between 4am and 4.30am. Azmat Ali, a neighbour, said, “Around 4.15am, I was woken up by screams from the third floor that there was a fire there. But they seemed to have doused the flames by themselves.”
Like other locals, Ali did not think too much of this and the fire department said no call was received at that time. Mohammad Naseem, another neighbour, said a fire had broken out in the same building around midnight in March this year. “The workers themselves had controlled the blaze back then,” he said.

But it appears, somewhere in the building, a flame continued to rage, unknown to residents. By the time the fire department received the first call at 5.22am, it was too late. Delhi Fire Services director Atul Garg said he wasn’t sure what happened between 4am and the time of call to authorities. Four fire tenders reached the spot within minutes, but they couldn’t get through as the lone entrance to the neighbourhood was narrow and congested. As the fire trucks struggled to access the lane, 70-odd people remained trapped in a burning building .

For more details, please read the article here: Source

sunny

It's so sad and appaling that such a catastrophe is happening in 21st cenutry India, and that also in the capital. We need strong rules and regulations regarding the city planning and infrastructure. However, the need of the hour is a Population control law. A law that should have been implemented atleast two decades ago!

b00kz

Population control law, now that's the elephant in the room. Just say it once and the constitution and democracy will be in danger that very moment. Not going to happen.

themaskeditor

Well these types of buildings are present everywhere. Government should take steps to regularize these structures and redevelop them with modern amenities. And also take steps to ensure no new structures pop up.

parivijesh100

Politics have prevented authorities to take curative actions all over India , in most of the states.  Strong political will,  away from vote bank politics can only eradicate such ills.  Fortunately new political dispensation is showing will to correct it.

bookgod2017

this is a terrible tragedy. The owners should have looked into the regulations before endangering so many poor lives

abhidebb

The incident is so horrific and sad....!!
The city houses need proper evacuation arrangements on emergency...

chanakyakripa

Factory should never be in an area where people also reside. This calamity could have been avoided if this simple principle of safety was followed.