Two labourers charred in fire, this time at unit that made jeans

Police said the building owner, Kishore Aggarwal, lives with his wife and four children on the third floor. The other three floors were given on rent to the factory owner, Shahadat Ali. While the stitching happened on the first and second floors, the ground floor was used as a godown, police said.

Police said eight workers were employed at the factory. “The men usually didn’t stay back after work hours. But on Sunday night, Faizan and Sehmat decided to work overtime. They were ironing clothes when the fire broke out,” Prasad said. “The fire might have started from the ground floor. While the owner and his family managed to escape from the terrace, Faizan and Sehmat were trapped inside,” Prasad added.

According to residents, the blaze engulfed the whole house within a few minutes. “They heard the men shouting for help but nobody could enter the building,” a police officer said. Residents alleged fire officials reached late. DFS chief G C Mishra refuted the claims: “The factory was located in a narrow lane… and encroachments and cars parked on the road made it difficult for us to get through.”

Killer fires

Nawada, Apr 17: Two killed in fire at crockery factory
Pitampura, Apr 13: Four of family dead after house catches fire
Sultanpuri, Apr 1: Four killed in fire at shoe-making factory
Maujpur, Mar 16: Man dead after house catches fire
Karol Bagh, Feb 10: 1 killed in fire at cloth manufacturing unit
Bawana, Jan 20: 17 killed in fire cracker factory blaze