Ten minutes before wrapping up his shift, Tarun Kumar (23), a migrant worker from Bihar’s Chapra, was gripped with panic in the early hours of Thursday. Along with more than 200 night-shift workers, he was trapped at a Noida factory when a huge fire broke out. At least 37 people were injured in the blaze, said officials.
“Around 5:30 am, I rushed to break the glass… the exits were hardly accessible due to the smoke. But the glass was so thick that it could not be broken… I saw a small door and jumped from the third floor,” he later told The Indian Express at a hospital where he was admitted with injuries. Many like him suffered injuries not from the blaze at the factory, Capital Power Systems Limited, in Noida’s Sector 4, that makes electric meters but during the bid to escape the fire.
“I thought it was better to jump than die in the fire. I first landed on a first-floor balcony and then jumped again… that was when I landed on the road,” recollected Dilip Singh (30), a helper from Etawah in Uttar Pradesh who has been working at the factory for about a year.
The factory comes under the jurisdiction of Noida Phase-1 police station. “The fire broke out between 5.30 am to 5.45 am,” an official said. The trigger was not immediately known.
Rescue efforts were immediately launched to evacuate those trapped inside. Firefighters had to break glass panels to gain entry into the unit and pull workers to safety, officials said.
Rajeev Narain Mishra, Additional Police Commissioner (Law and Order), Gautam Buddha Nagar, who reached the scene along with other senior police officials and Pardeep Kumar, Chief Fire Officer, Gautam Buddha Nagar, said that the injured were undergoing treatment at the district hospital and the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.
“This morning, we received information that a factory in Noida’s Sector 4 that makes electric meters has caught fire. When we received the information, the local police team and the fire team reached the spot and we began dousing the fire,” Mishra said.
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He added, “There were around 200-250 people working the night shift at the factory, and our efforts focused on rescuing them. The fire team officials had to break through glass to get inside and rescue people. There was heavy smoke that made rescue operations difficult.”
Deepu Kumar, a worker who was stuck on the fourth floor, said. “There were around a hundred workers on our floor… but everything was invisible when the smoke started to come from the basement. Jo jaise bhaag raha tha… bhaag raha tha, apni jaan bacha raha tha (Everyone ran in whatever way they could to save their lives). Others too jumped along with him, he recalled, and landed on the road. His right leg and hip bone is fractured.
At the hospital, he was waiting for his father to visit him, along with his 7-month-old son. “My wife has been worried since morning,” he added.
A senior hospital official said a total of 37 injured workers were brought to the facility. “While some have been referred to the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, few are undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Few got discharged after primary care,” the official added.
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Mishra said the magnitude of fire necessitated a significant response. “We sent more than 30 fire-fighting vehicles, hydraulic platforms, and foam tenders to the spot. Of those admitted at the hospital, some have minor injuries. Some were injured while trying to save themselves, and a few were trapped in smoke. But as per our initial information, they are all out of danger,” he said.
Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh.
Professional Profile
Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.
Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations.
Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities:
1. Environment & Public Safety
"Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans.
"Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people.
"At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital.
"Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents.
2. Crime & Legal Developments
"'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused.
"After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement.
"Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida.
3. Human Interest & Features
"'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter.
"How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city.
Signature Style
Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More
