Bawana fire: Delhi government orders probe

Pic courtesy: Reuters

New Delhi: Delhi government on Saturday ordered an inquiry into the fire incident in Bawana that killed seventeen people.

V sad to hear abt large no of casualties. Keeping a close watch on rescue operations https://t.co/yHwQAH0bKi — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 20, 2018

The fire, which started at the storage unit on the ground floor of a two-storey building, ripped through the structure, an official was quoted as PTI by saying.

The police also confirmed 17 people were killed and said an FIR has been registered. An investigation is on to ascertain the cause of the blaze, they said.

The Delhi Fire Services received a call about the fire at the factory around 6.20 pm and 10 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, the fire department said, adding the blaze has been brought under control.

GC Mishra, Director, Delhi Fire Service, said the building comprised a basement, ground floor and two upper floors.

North Delhi Mayor Preety Agarwal rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.

"The factory falls in the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) area," a senior NDMC official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the death of people in the fire. "My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. May those who are injured recover quickly," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted quoting the PM.

(With PTI inputs)