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Delhi factory fire: More than 40 dead in India blaze | Delhi factory fire: More than 40 dead in India blaze |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A large fire has swept through a bag factory in the Indian capital Delhi, killing 43 workers, officials say. | A large fire has swept through a bag factory in the Indian capital Delhi, killing 43 workers, officials say. |
The blaze broke out at the four-storey building in the city's congested old quarter early on Sunday morning. | The blaze broke out at the four-storey building in the city's congested old quarter early on Sunday morning. |
At least 100 people were sleeping inside the factory, which mainly makes school bags, when the fire started. More than 60 have been rescued. | At least 100 people were sleeping inside the factory, which mainly makes school bags, when the fire started. More than 60 have been rescued. |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the fire "horrific" and sent his condolences. | Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the fire "horrific" and sent his condolences. |
A local fire chief told BBC Hindi the building did not have a proper fire licence and was operating illegally as a factory. | |
Local media reported that the owner of the factory, named as Rehan, had been arrested. | |
'Cries and shouts for help' | 'Cries and shouts for help' |
Delhi's firefighters received the first call about the fire at 05:22 local time on Sunday (23:52 GMT Saturday). | |
The fire began on the lower storeys, spreading rapidly to the third floor where workers were sleeping. | The fire began on the lower storeys, spreading rapidly to the third floor where workers were sleeping. |
"We woke up with cries and shouts for help," said Ronak Khan, a 17-year-old living next door. | "We woke up with cries and shouts for help," said Ronak Khan, a 17-year-old living next door. |
"I saw people trapped. We asked them to come to the rooftop so that we could rescue them but they were not able to come up." | "I saw people trapped. We asked them to come to the rooftop so that we could rescue them but they were not able to come up." |
The area where the factory is located - Azad Market - is a web of narrow alleyways, which made it difficult to reach the blaze. | The area where the factory is located - Azad Market - is a web of narrow alleyways, which made it difficult to reach the blaze. |
Rescuers had to carry out victims on their shoulders one-by-one with firefighters cutting away window grills to access the building. | Rescuers had to carry out victims on their shoulders one-by-one with firefighters cutting away window grills to access the building. |
It is not clear what caused the blaze but an investigation has been ordered. | It is not clear what caused the blaze but an investigation has been ordered. |
An initial probe and eyewitnesses suggested a short circuit may have been to blame. | An initial probe and eyewitnesses suggested a short circuit may have been to blame. |
A brother's grief | |
By Anant Prakash, BBC Hindi, Lok Nayak hospital, Delhi | |
Mohammad Haider's brother Bablu worked in the factory. | |
Haider says he rushed there and was told: "Your brother has been saved." | |
"I was relieved and rescued three to four other people. | |
"But then I learned that my brother was actually inside. Afterwards, I found him lying in the mortuary." | |
Mohammad Haider is shaking. Two other men are trying to console him. | |
"I had never thought that my brother would be separated from me this way," he says. | |
"Bablu used to inform me about everything in his life, whatever he was up to. | |
"Even when the fire started, he called me and said, 'Brother, please save me'. But I could not save him." | |
Victims' relatives have been scrambling for information. One man told India's PTI agency his brother was inside. | Victims' relatives have been scrambling for information. One man told India's PTI agency his brother was inside. |
"I got a call from his friend informing that he has been injured in the incident. I have no clue which hospital he has been taken to," he said. | "I got a call from his friend informing that he has been injured in the incident. I have no clue which hospital he has been taken to," he said. |
Indian cities have often seen deadly fires, with poor planning and lax enforcement of safety regulations major factors. | Indian cities have often seen deadly fires, with poor planning and lax enforcement of safety regulations major factors. |
Indian politicians have been expressing their horror at the blaze. | Indian politicians have been expressing their horror at the blaze. |
"The fire in Delhi's Anaj Mandi on Rani Jhansi Road is extremely horrific," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. | "The fire in Delhi's Anaj Mandi on Rani Jhansi Road is extremely horrific," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. |
"My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. Wishing the injured a quick recovery. Authorities are providing all possible assistance at the site of the tragedy." | "My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. Wishing the injured a quick recovery. Authorities are providing all possible assistance at the site of the tragedy." |
Home Minister Amit Shah called it a "tragic loss of precious lives". | Home Minister Amit Shah called it a "tragic loss of precious lives". |