A massive fire broke out at a multi-storey factory near Delhi’s Rithala Metro Station on Monday evening, claiming the lives of at least four people. Dense smoke filled the sky as panicked locals watched the flames engulf the industrial unit located in a residential area.
The Delhi Fire Department shared that they got the emergency call at 7:25 PM and quickly dispatched 16 fire engines. Additional Divisional Officer Ajay Sharma led the operation.
However, it later came to light that the fire had broken out almost an hour earlier. Instead of calling for help right away, the factory workers tried to handle it on their own, losing precious time before finally reaching out to the fire brigade.
Firefighting Delayed as Workers Tried DIY Rescue
Fire Officer Ashok Kumar Jaiswal shared, “We received the fire call at 7:25 PM. But when we arrived, we found that the fire had started almost an hour earlier. Out of fear, they delayed calling the fire brigade and first tried to control the fire themselves. Only when the entire factory was engulfed did they call us.”
Rescue efforts were hampered by the building’s structure, prompting authorities to deploy a JCB machine to break through the walls. This allowed firefighters to spray water from the opposite side in hopes of containing the blaze. Visuals of thick black smoke could be seen from miles away.
Officials revealed that the neighborhood isn’t just home to residents—it’s also filled with factories quietly running against the rules. These units, many of them flouting safety norms, have raised serious concerns.
While the exact cause of the fire is still being looked into of this Rithala fire, authorities haven’t dismissed the possibility of legal action. Factory owners may soon face accountability for negligence and for setting up shop where they were never supposed to in the first place.
