‘Heard screams, rushed to help’: Victims injured in Faridabad factory fire recollect moments of horror

Lokman Khan (35) said he suffered serious injuries after shrapnels pierced his stomach. Aamir, his relative, said that Lokman had been working as a transporter at the factory for the past decade. “I got a call that a fire broke out due to hydraulic oil. He was standing outside the factory at the time of the incident. Then some cylinders near one of the windows of the factory blew… the glass of the windows exploded. That’s how he got injured,” said Aamir.

Lokman lives with his three children, aged 8, 4 and 1.5, along with his wife, in Ballabgarh.

Gullar Singh (50), who works as a staffer at a nearby private company, was also among the injured. His nephew, Pushpender (33) told The Indian Express, “Uncle was standing there when there was an explosion, and concrete pieces hit his head. More pieces hit his hand and leg when he was fleeing, he is bruised but otherwise fine.”

Three policemen were among those injured in the blaze. Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are questioning the factory owner. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation. “The registration of a formal complaint is underway,” Faridabad Police spokesperson SI Yashpal Yadav said.