Fire Breaks Out At Factory In Delhi's Peeragarhi, Several Feared Trapped, NDRF Launches Rescue Op

A massive fire broke out at a battery factory in Delhi’s Peeragarhi area on Thursday. The severity of the blaze can be gauged from the fact that more than 30 fire engines are at the spot. Several people, including fire brigade personnel, are feared to be trapped. A team of the National Disaster Response Force has reached the site and a rescue operation is underway. According to initial reports, a call was received around 4:23 am about the fire in a factory located in Peeragarhi’s Udyog Nagar area. At first, the fire department had sent seven tenders. Some blasts were also reported from the factory. Due to one of such blast, a part of the factory collapsed and some fire department personnel were feared trapped under the debris.

I hope and pray that no life is lost. #udyogvihar #industrial #peeragarhi #fire pic.twitter.com/JDOBmdTpk7

— Mehar Bhagat (@MeharBhagat) January 2, 2020

A video clip has emerged on Twitter that shows thick plume of smoke billowing from the factory.

The Peeragarhi fire is the first major incident of blaze in the National Capital in 2020. Last year, Delhi witnessed a massive fire in Anaj Mandi area that claimed 43 lives. The Filmistan fire was the worst that the National Capital has witnessed since the Uphaar tragedy that killed 59 people.  The tragic incident prompted visit from high-profile politicians, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union ministers Hardeep Puri and Harsh Vardhan, Lok Sabha MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Delhi Industry Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari and BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa to the LNJP Hospital.

Almost all the deceased were migrant labourers hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Police and fire department officials said many of the fatalities occurred due to suffocation as the people were sleeping when the fire started at around 5 am on the second floor of the building that did not have fire safety clearance and was packed with combustible material like card boards.

It took over 150 firefighters nearly five hours to douse the blaze. As many as 63 people were pulled out from the building. While 43, including one minor, died, 16 were injured. Two fire department personnel were hurt while carrying out rescue work, officials said.