On the evening of February 15, 2024, a fire broke out in a paint factory situated in the Alipur region of northern Delhi, India. The blaze led to the tragic loss of 11 lives and injured four individuals.
The fire initiated on the first floor of the building complex, which also housed a chemical warehouse. The flames escalated quickly, trapping those on the higher levels without an exit strategy. Some of the injured were in nearby houses that caught fire.
The fire necessitated aggressive containment measures. It took the collective efforts of approximately 150 firefighters and 22 fire trucks over four hours to entirely put out the flames, which started late on Thursday evening. Rescue operations were delayed due to road barricades, unrelated to the fire, set up by protesting farmers.
The aftermath painted a somber picture. Amidst the debris, the burnt remains of the victims were found. The four individuals who survived with injuries were immediately transported to Raja Harish Chandra Hospital in Delhi for medical attention, and the deceased were taken to Babu Jagjeevan Ram Hospital.
Local authorities have undertaken preliminary investigations to establish the cause of the fire. An explosion, possibly triggered by the chemicals in the factory, was reported before the fire. Officials noted the absence of essential fire safety measures in the factory, such as fire extinguishing equipment and multiple escape routes. The building’s reliance on a single staircase greatly hampered escape efforts and likely led to a high number of casualties.
This incident highlights the frequent neglect of the National Building Code of India, which prescribes strict guidelines for construction and safety standards, including fire safety measures. However, compliance with these rules is inconsistent across the country’s fast-growing urban and industrial areas.
The incident has instigated a fresh call for more rigorous enforcement of building codes and safety regulations, particularly in industrial settings where the risk of such tragedies is elevated. Authorities are in the process of identifying the exact cause of the fire and any potential violations of safety protocols.
