43 Killed in Delhi’s Anaj Mandi Fire, Owners in Police Custody
The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial probe into the fire. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court on Monday, 9 December, sent factory owner Rehan and manager Furkan to 14-day police custody for interrogation, after a fire at their factory killed at least 43 people on Sunday.
Atul Garg, Chief Fire Officer, Delhi Fire Service (DFS), said that the building in Anaj Mandi did not have a fire clearance from the DFS, and no fire safety equipment were found installed in the premises.
Speaking to The Quint locals claimed that there were at least 10-20 factories in the same lane.
- At least 43 people have been killed. 64 people were rescued and 21 are said to be critical
- Most deaths have occurred due to suffocation and inhaling smoke, the hospitals have said
- The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial probe into the fire. The cause of the fire is not yet known
- Compensations for those affected have been announced by the Delhi govt, Delhi BJP and the PMO
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
CM Kejriwal, Manoj Tiwari Reach the Spot, Announce Compensations
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has reached the spot of the incident at Rani Jhansi Raod, soon after Delhi BJP Chief Manojr Tiwari.
Kejriwal announced that a magisterial inquiry has been ordered in the incident and that a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the immediate families of those who lost their lives and Rs 1 lakh each to those injured will be given by the government.
“The expense of medical treatment of those injured to be borne by the government,” he said.
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, meanwhile, announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased and Rs 25,000 for those injured from the BJP.
Case Registered Against Building Owner
A case has been registered under section 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code against owner of the building in Delhi’s Anaj Mandi.
According to news agency ANI, the owner, Rehan is currently absconding.
After CM, Delhi BJP, PMO Announces Ex-Gratia of Rs 2 Lakh for the Deceased
After the Delhi Government and Delhi BJP announced compensations for each of the deceased and injured, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of those who lost their lives due to tragic fire in Delhi.
Delhi CM Meets With Injured at Hospital
Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal, on Sunday 8 December, met with those injured in the fire at Delhi’s Rani Jhansi road.
Rescue Ops Still On, We Are Searching the Building: NDRF Deputy Commandant
Aditya Pratap Singh, Deputy Commandant of the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), told reporters that rescue operations are still underway. "We are still searching the building,” Singh said.
BSES Says Power Metres Intact, Source of Fire May be from Within
Power distribution company BYPL claimed that the fire at a factory Anaj Mandi appeared to have started in some "internal system" of the building.
A massive fire swept through the building having manufacturing units, in north Delhi's Anaj Mandi area around 5:22 am, leaving at least 43 people, mostly labourers, dead, police said.
Thirty fire tenders rushed to the spot after the fire department received information about the incident.
"It appears that the fire started in the internal system of the building," he said.
The fire occurred on the second and third floors of the factory building operating from the residential area.
Distraught Relatives Throng Hospitals
At the three hospitals where the dead and injured were taken - RML, LNJP and Hindu Roa - distraught relatives tried to locate their family members.Manoj (23), a resident of Begusarai in Bihar, said his brother Naveen (18) was working in a handbag manufacturing unit operating from the premises.
"I got a call from his friend informing that he has been injured in the incident. I have no clue which hospital he has been taken to," he said.
According to an unidentified elderly man whose three nephews were working in the factory, "At least 12-15 machines were installed in the unit. I have no idea about the factory owner."
My nephews Mohammed Imran and Ikramuddin were inside the factory. I don't know their whereabouts," the man said.
According to him, many units were operating from the premises which was located in a congested area.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Announces Rs 2 Lakh Compensation for Those from Bihar
Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar has announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakhs each to the victims of Delhi Fire incident who hail from Bihar.
Building Didn't Have Clearance from Fire Services: Delhi Chief Fire Officer
Atul Garg, Chief Fire Officer, Delhi Fire Service (DFS), said that the building in Anaj Mandi did not have a fire clearance from the DFS, and no fire safety equipment were found installed in the premises.
BJP MP From Chandni Chowk Dr Harsh Vardhan to Cut Short Jhansi Trip
Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister and BJP MP from Chandni Chowk, Dr Harsh Vardhan, on Sunday 8 December, said that he is extremely saddened at the fire incident that took place in his parliamentary constituency earlier today.
A Day Earlier Fire Broke out at the Same Spot
A fire had broken out yesterday on 7 December in a factory building behind the site at Anaj Mandi, Rani Jhansi Road, where fire broke out earlier today. Fire was doused and no casualties were reported.
(Source: ANI)
Factory Owner Arrested by Delhi Police
Delhi Police have arrested Rehan, the owner of the building where a fire broke out earlier today, claiming lives of 43 people. A case has been registered under section 304 of Indian Penal Code against him.
MoS Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Choubey Met the Injured
Ashwini Choubey, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare met those injured in the Anaj Mandi fire at LNJP hospital.
There Is No Possibility of More Bodies Being Recovered: Delhi Police
Delhi Police DCP North Monika Bhardwaj said, “Owner of the building Rehan and his manager Furkan have been arrested. We are investigating the matter. From the information we have, more or less there is no possibility of more bodies being recovered.”
Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan Met Those Injured in Fire
Union Minister & BJP MP from Chandni Chowk Dr. Harsh Vardhan met the injured at LNJP hospital.
Could've Saved More Lives If We Had More Information Earlier: Fireman Who Saved 11 Lives
Fireman Rajesh Shukla who rescued 11 persons in the Anaj Mandi Fire, is admitted at LNJP Hospital. "I want to appeal to all to convey right information about any fire incident at the earliest. We could've saved more lives today as well, if we had more information a little earlier,” he said.
Lapses Allowed to Continue With Impunity, Says Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
Union Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri hit out at the AAP government over the death of 43 people in a fire in Delhi's Anaj Mandi area, alleging the incident points to lapses that were allowed to continue with "impunity".
The lanes were narrow and congested with wires and cables dangling dangerously, Puri said in a statement, adding the building flouted safety and fire norms.
(Source: PTI)
Building Was Surveyed Last Week, Upper Floors Found Locked: Official Sources
Civic authorities had last week “surveyed” the four-storey building housing illegal manufacturing units, where 43 lives were lost in a massive fire on Sunday, but the upper floors were found to be locked due to which the entire structure could not be inspected, according to official sources.
Officials were to visit the building again to survey the upper floors and accordingly issue a show-cause notice, a source said, reported PTI.
A preliminary probe by authorities suggested that a short-circuit triggered the fire which started on the building's second floor.
Fresh Fire in Same Anaj Mandi Building, Doused Within 20 Mins
Video Editor: Vishal Kumar
A fire broke out in north Delhi's Anaj Mandi area on Monday morning in the same building where a blaze killed 43 people a day earlier, Delhi Fire Service officials said.
The fire department officials said they received a call about the blaze at around 7.50 am after which two fire tenders were rushed to the scene.
Some material stacked inside the building caught fire. However, the blaze was brought under control within 20 minutes, they said.
A massive fire in the same four-storey building comprising illegal factories killed 43 and injured 16 workers on Sunday.
BJP MP Vijay Goel Raises Delhi Fire Issue in Rajya Sabha
Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel, on Monday 9 December, raised the issue of the fire in Delhi’s Anaj Mandi on Sunday, 8 December that killed 43 people.
Court Sends Factory Owners to 14-Day Judicial Custody
Tees Hazari court has sent factory owner Rehan and manager Furkan to 14-day police custody for interrogation.
Railways To Transport Bodies of Bihar Residents
Railways will transport bodies of Bihar residents who died in the factory fire, in a coach of Swatantrata Senani express.
Police Conducts 3D Laser Scan of Building to Recreate Scene
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police collected evidence using 3D laser scan technology in order to reconstruct for investigation the incident of fire at the building, in the Anaj Mandi area here, that was engulfed in a blaze on Sunday killing 43 people.
A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) also visited the site and collected samples from the four-storey building that housed a number of illegal manufacturing units and had stored flammable raw material such as cardboard boxes, plastic sheets and rexine.
NHRC Takes Suo Moto Cognizance of Incident
National Human Rights Commission takes suo moto cognizance of Anaj Mandi fire.
“Have taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that at least 43 people were killed at Filmistan’s Anaj Mandi area in central Delhi early Sunday morning,when a blaze caused by short-circuit turned a 5-story building in a lethal gas chamber,” NHRC said in a statement.
“Have issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Delhi; Commissioner of Police, Delhi & Commissioner, North Delhi Municipal Corporation, calling for a detailed report in the matter within 6 weeks along with action taken against the errant officers/officials,” the statement added.