How many were caught in shoe factory fire? (Lead)
April 29th, 2011 - 4:50 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, April 29 (IANS) Confusion prevailed Friday over how many people were working in the Delhi shoe factory when it caught fire two days ago, killing at least 10 people.
With the complex still hot and emitting smoke, fire fighters found it difficult to carry out rescue work.
So far 10 bodies have been found. While some officials say there is little chance of more bodies being recovered, locals say more are likely to be found in the gutted three-storey building in Udyog Nagar in west Delhi’s Peeragarhi area.
One of the fire fighters at the site, who did not wish to be named, said there were chances of more bodies being found inside.
“When we came, we got information that around 40 people are inside, so more bodies can be found,” the man told IANS.
But Sunil Chowdhary, the fire official heading the operation, had a different view.
“There were around 30 people, of which 20 managed to escape. Chances are remote that there will be more bodies though we are searching,” Choudhary said.
The fire broke out around 7 p.m. Wednesday. With the factory packed with inflammable material, the blaze raged for over 12 hours before it could be brought under control.
A local resident said he saw only one boy escape from the factory.
“I was here till 1.30 a.m. Thursday and saw only one boy escaping, I don’t know what happened to the others,” Ramnath told IANS.
The cause of the fire is still not known.
“There were clear violations of fire norms, there was no scope for escape. But the exact cause of fire will be established only after the fire is completely doused,” Deputy Commissioner of Police G.S. Meena told IANS.
The factory, according to one account, had 22 workers on its rolls while several others were working on contract. A contractor who visited the site told IANS that around 10-12 of his labourers were in the factory.
“Another 10-15 workers hired by another contractor were also there,” he said, hurriedly leaving the place when asked to give his name.
Some estimates Thursday had put the number of workers inside at around 60.
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Tags: april 29, blaze, commissioner of police, confusion, deputy commissioner, exact cause, factory fire, fire fighters, fire official, labourers, little chance, locals, meena, New Delhi, norms, scope, shoe factory, smoke fire, west delhi