Bawana fire: Building did not have a No Objection Certificate, says fire department

The two-storey building in Delhi’s Bawana are that caught fire and killed 17 people did not have a No Objection Certificate from the fire department, Hindustan Times reported on Sunday.

According to the report, the building had one exit, and two fire extinguishers in the entire building that the fire department said was ‘grossly inadequate’. In addition, the building had a basement that had at least 30 workers.

Earlier, the police said that they had a case in the grade four fire that engulfed other factories in the neighbourhood. But those killed worked at the factory that's been found to be illegal, according to the area DM. It did not even have a cracker licence.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known but sources suspect that a short-circuit could have been a trigger.

"Four bodies were pulled out initially... they seemed to have died of suffocation. Twelve were recovered later... they died while trying to jump out of windows," said Rajneesh Gupta, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini District).

Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain ordered an inquiry in the fire tragedy. "Learnt about a serious fire incident in a private factory at Bawana. Several casualties. Monitoring the situation. Have ordered an enquiry," he tweeted.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda also directed his Health Secretary to provide immediate assistance to victims and also asked AIIMS' trauma centre to be on alert.

In the aftermath of Bawana factory fire, BJP leader & North Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Preeti Aggarwal was caught on cam telling her associate, 'iss factory ki licensing hamare paas hai isliye hum kuch nahi bol sakte.'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the death of people in the fire.  

Deeply anguished by the fire at a factory in Bawana. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. May those who are injured recover quickly: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 20, 2018

The Delhi government ordered an inquiry into the blaze even as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was keeping a "close watch" on the rescue operations.

"V(ery) sad to hear abt large no of casualties. Keeping a close watch on rescue operations," he said in a tweet.

.@ArvindKejriwal #BawanaFire pic.twitter.com/P46Qtm36mh

— AAP Express  (@AAPExpress) January 20, 2018