Major fire incident in Alipur area leads to multiple casualties and injuries

A significant fire broke out in a paint factory located in the Alipur area of outer north Delhi on Thursday evening, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 individuals and injuries to four others.

The Delhi Fire Services were alerted to the incident at 5:25 pm, with 22 fire tenders immediately dispatched to Nehru Enclave, close to Dayal Market, followed by additional support.

Atul Garg, Director of Delhi Fire Services, confirmed the emergency response, highlighting the rapid deployment of fire tenders to the scene.

The fire, which quickly spread to adjacent buildings, including a de-addiction centre, challenged the response teams’ efforts to manage the blaze.

Rescue operation by Alipur police station constable

In response to the spreading fire, a team from the Alipur police station, including Constable Karamveer, executed a rescue operation for six individuals trapped in a nearby de-addiction centre.

Utilising a wooden charpoy, Constable Karamveer facilitated their escape over the barbed wire fencing, while the adjacent building was engulfed in flames.

“There were barbed wires on the roof of the de-addiction centre. He put a wooden charpoy over the wires and helped the trapped men come to the other side while the fire was raging,” explained an anonymous police officer.

Ravi Kr Singh, DCP (Outernorth), reported that Constable Karamveer sustained burns during the rescue and is being treated at Safdarjung Hospital.

Delhi paint factory fire: Investigation and recovery efforts

After extinguishing the fire, which took over three hours, emergency services recovered 11 bodies from the factory, believed to be workers.

The identities of the deceased are pending due to the extent of their injuries.

“The men are yet to be identified as the bodies were charred to a certain extent. They have been sent to mortuary,” stated the officer, noting the high temperatures inside the factory at the time of the incident.

Additionally, three individuals from neighbouring buildings were injured and have received medical treatment at Lok Nayak Hospital.

Delhi Police have registered a case under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code, identifying Akhil Jain, a resident of Sonipat, as the operator of the factory, with the plot owned by Raj Rani of Nehru Enclave.

IFSJ comment

The incident in Delhi’s Alipur area serves as a reminder of the persistent risks present in industrial operations and the need for stringent safety measures to prevent such occurrences.

It also highlights the critical role of emergency services in responding to such disasters and the importance of effective rescue operations in saving lives.

The ongoing investigation will likely focus on the cause of the fire and the measures necessary to enhance safety standards in similar establishments.