On Thursday evening, February 15, a fire engulfed a paint factory in the Alipur area in the northern part of New Delhi, India, resulting in the loss of at least 11 lives and injuries to four others.
The fire originated on the ground floor of a complex that also contained a chemical warehouse, rapidly spreading and trapping those on the upper floors with no means of escape.
The fire demanded intense efforts to be controlled. It took 22 fire engines and about 150 firefighters more than four hours to completely extinguish the flames, starting from late Thursday evening. The rescue operations were delayed due to barricades on the road, unrelated to the fire, set up by farmers who were protesting.
The aftermath was grim. The charred remains of the victims were discovered amidst the rubble. The four surviving injured people were promptly taken to Babu Jagjeevan Ram Hospital and Raja Harish Chandra Hospital in Delhi for treatment.
Preliminary investigations have been initiated by local authorities to determine the cause of the fire. A blast, probably caused by chemicals in the factory, was heard before the fire. Officials noted the absence of necessary fire safety measures in the factory, including a lack of firefighting equipment and multiple escape routes. The building’s reliance on a single staircase significantly hindered escape efforts and likely contributed to the high casualty rate.
The incident is a reminder of the frequent disregard for the National Building Code of India, which outlines stringent guidelines for construction and safety standards, including fire safety measures. However, adherence to these regulations remains inconsistent across the country’s rapidly expanding urban and industrial landscapes.
The incident has prompted a renewed call for stricter enforcement of building codes and safety regulations, especially in industrial settings where the potential for such disasters is heightened. Authorities are investigating to pinpoint the cause of the fire and to identify any lapses in safety protocols.
