Delhi: A devastating fire broke out at a factory near Rithala Metro Station in northwest Delhi on Tuesday evening, claiming at least three lives. The blaze triggered an intense firefighting operation that lasted nearly 12 hours.
The incident was reported to Budh Vihar police around 7:29 pm, with callers alerting that several individuals were trapped inside the premises. Emergency services, including 15 fire tenders, were rushed to the scene. According to Divisional Fire Officer AK Jaiswal, the factory was involved in printing on plastic and cloth materials. “The fire is under control, but we have yet to access the upper floors,” he stated during the operation.
The fire engulfed a four-storey building. The ground and first floors were used for manufacturing plastic and readymade bags by Nitin Bansal, son of the building owner, Suresh Bansal. The second floor was rented by Anand, who used it for fabric-related work, while the top two floors served as storage for disposable products managed by Rakesh Arora, 69.
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Shortly after the fire began, three injured individuals were rescued and taken to Dr. BSA Hospital by ambulance. Nitin Bansal (31) and Rakesh (30), a factory worker, sustained severe burn injuries—both over 80 percent. A third worker, Virender (25), suffered minor injuries. Nitin and Rakesh were later transferred to RML Hospital for advanced treatment.
Tragically, at around 1:15 am on Wednesday, firefighters discovered three charred bodies on the first floor. The remains were unidentifiable and were sent to Dr. BSA Hospital for autopsy and identification.
By 6 am, the fire had been controlled on the lower levels, though smoke continued to hinder efforts on the upper floors. Firefighters remained at the scene throughout the night and into the morning to completely douse the flames.
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