Peeragarhi: Burning building collapses; 1 killed, 14 injured
One firefighter died and 14 people suffered injuries after a battery factory in Delhi's Peeragarhi caught fire on Thursday. Initially, seven fire engines were sent to curtail the blaze, but the situation took a deadly turn when the structure collapsed due to an explosion, trapping several people including firefighters. Reports suggest two firefighters and one worker have been rescued. Here's more.
Fire department received first call at 4:23 am
Atul Garg, Director, Delhi Fire Service, said the department received a call at 4:23 am. The factory is located at Udyog Nagar. Reportedly, the explosion was caused by an overheated battery around 9 am. Apart from 35 fire engines, a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is also helping in rescue operations. The blaze wasn't doused at the time of the press.
Here are the latest visuals from the spot
The deceased was merely 27 years old
The firefighter who lost his life was identified as 27-year-old Amit Balyan. He was posted at Kirti Nagar branch. Confirming his death, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Our firemen save other people's lives by putting their lives under extremely risk in difficult circumstances. May his soul rest in peace." Separately, Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain visited the spot and ordered a magisterial inquiry.
Last month, fire in Anaj Mandi area killed 43
This incident comes just days after a massive fire in Delhi's Anaj Mandi area killed 43 people, most of whom were migrant laborers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The Anaj Mandi inferno was the second deadliest fire tragedy of Delhi, after the 1997 Uphaar cinema incident in which 59 people lost their lives and more than 100 were injured.
In 2019, 90 people died due to fire tragedies
According to a report in Asian Age, 90 people died in Delhi due to fire tragedies in 2019. The rise in a number of tragedies shows civic agencies haven't learned any lesson. But if authorities are to be believed, most of the establishments where such incidents happen are illegal. As per Garg, 2,372 NOCs have been issued to hotels and factories till now.
