6 injured as fire breaks out in basement of textile print unit

Six workers of a textile printing company sustained burn injuries after a fire broke out in its basement early Sunday in Khandsa village near Sector 37. The police said two workers sustained 60% burn injuries and were undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, where their condition is reported to be severe, but stable.

According to the police, the incident took place around 2.45am, when the workers were on night shift. The police said the basement had been rented by a private company. Based on the statement of Kamlesh, one of the victims, both of whose arms were burnt, the police have registered a case against the owner of the company under sections 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code at the Sector 37 police station.

One of the victims said that a tubelight in the basement suddenly burst, which may have led to a short circuit, triggering a fire. The fire quickly engulfed the garment inventory in the basement and spread to the entrance.

The victims have been identified by their first names as Ravinder, Satya Prakash (both from Bijnor), Arun (from Bhadohi), Kamlesh (Mirzapur), Santosh (Prayagraj), and Chote Lal (Bulandshahr). The police said the workers, from different places in Uttar Pradesh, had been working in the city for several years.

IS Kashyap, additional divisional fire safety officer, said that three fire tenders were pressed into service after the fire control room received a call around 3.40am. “Two fire tenders from the Sector 29 fire station and one fire engine from Sector 37 were rushed to the spot. The blaze was brought under control by 5.30am. Before the fire department officials reached the spot, the injured persons had already been taken to the hospital for treatment. The cause of fire is not known yet,” Kashyap said.

The police said two of the victims, Ravinder and Arun, suffered burns on their faces, both arms, legs and chest and were referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi from a private hospital in Sector 10. Till the time of filing this report, Santosh and Satya Prakash (who suffered burns on their faces and arms) were in the ICU at Safdarjung Hospital and were said to be stable. Kamlesh and Chhote Lal were discharged after treatment, the police said.

Narender, assistant sub inspector (ASI), Sector 37 police station, said it was not certain if the workers were asleep or working when the fire broke.

Manoj Kumar, additional SHO, said, a case had been registered and the police was conducting the probe. “No one has been arrested yet,” Kumar said.

Sanjay, who lives in the neighbourhood, said, “I received a call from a friend that there had been a mishap in a basement. I immediately alerted the fire station. When I reached the spot, the police had cordoned off the area.”

Sukhbir Singh, fire officer, said the rear exit of the basement was closed. “The victims could have escaped with minor injuries if the rear exit of the basement had been open. The fire was at its peak at the rear of the basement.”

In another incident, at least four shanties were gutted after a fire broke out in Sheetla Colony on Sunday morning. No person was injured and some of the inhabitants’ scrap material was gutted, the police said.

Fire department officials said the control room received a call around 4am, following which four fire tenders (two from Bhim Nagar, one each from Sector 29 and Udyog Vihar) were pressed into service. The fire was controlled around 6.30am before it could spread to the 20 neighbouring shanties.

Julas, a scrap dealer from Assam, said that he was asleep in his shanty and woke up upon hearing the commotion. “The fire started from the far side and gutted the scrap material before spreading towards my shanty. I ran out with family members. I lost ₹18,000 in cash and all my documents, including my ATM card and Aadhaar card,” Julas said.

The owner of the textile printing company did not respond to questions despite repeated attempts.