11 workers charred to death in massive blaze at paint factory in Outer Delhi’s Alipur

According to Delhi Fire Services (DFS) chief Atul Garg, the blaze broke out at the single-storey factory before engulfing the entire premises. “We received a phone call about the fire at 5.30 pm from Bhorgarh at Dayalpur market in Alipur,” he said.

Twenty-two fire tenders were rushed to douse the fire, which took around two hours, said officers.

Eleven bodies have been recovered so far. Police said the fire was preceded by a blast.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is set to meet the families of those who died in the fire later today. He will also meet those who have been injured.

The factory was used for manufacturing paint material, added police. The exact reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained, and further investigation is underway, said police.

Meanwhile, families anxiously waited to see if any of those dead were their loved ones. Shyamu Kumar said his 19-year-old brother, Shubham, worked at the factory. “I don’t know where my brother is… he recently joined the factory… He is missing along with several others… more are feared dead… around a dozen workers used to work at the factory.”

In May 2022, 27 people were killed and a dozen injured in a massive fire at a four-storey commercial building near Mundka Metro station. More than 20 charred bodies were recovered.

In January 2018, a fire at an illegal firecracker packaging unit in Northwest Delhi’s Bawana Industrial Area left 17 workers dead.