In Jaipur, 8 killed in fire at ‘illegal’ factory
Jaipur Collector Sandesh Nayak said that the firecracker unit operated near ITI College in Ayesha Nagar Talai area, Kho Nagorian. Preliminary findings suggest that highly combustible material stored inside the unit may have triggered the blaze.
According to police sources, several raids have been conducted in the area since Tuesday night (PTI Photo) A massive fire broke out at a firecracker factory in Jaipur’s Kho Nagoriyan area around 11 am Tuesday, killing eight persons, including a teenager, and leaving many others critically injured with severe burn injuries.
The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Ashraf (40), Mohammad Rabbil (16), Abdul Wahid (46), Sameer Khan (20), Bilal (28), Azim (18), Nasir Khan (25), and an unidentified person. Nasir succumbed to his injuries during treatment at SMS Hospital. The injured were discharged after undergoing treatment at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, officials said.
“Six persons were brought to the hospital, of whom one person was declared dead on arrival and another died shortly after being admitted to the hospital…,” said Pradeep Sharma, Assistant Superintendent of SMS Hospital. Dr R K Jain, a plastic surgeon at SMS Hospital, said two of the patients sustained nearly 95% burns, while another suffered 75% burns — and “it is difficult to save such patients”.
Jaipur Collector Sandesh Nayak said that the firecracker unit operated near ITI College in Ayesha Nagar Talai area, Kho Nagorian. Preliminary findings suggest that highly combustible material stored inside the unit may have triggered the blaze. “It appears the factory was functioning illegally without the required permissions. The matter is being investigated,” Nayak told The Indian Express.
Local MLA Amin Kagzi questioned how the unit was operating without the knowledge of the authorities. Also raising concerns about the factory’s ownership, he said, “Even if the deceased were not from Rajasthan, their lives were equally valuable. The failure lies with the authorities.”
Police officers and forensic teams also inspected the site to ascertain the cause of the fire. Jaipur Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal and DCP (East) Ranjeet Sharma said that “action will be taken against defaulters, including police officers, who let the factory operate, as well as the owner of the factory”.
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