Delhi factory fire: Death toll climbs to 11
New Delhi, Feb 16: The death toll in an explosion and subsequent fire in a paint factory in outer Delhi's Alipur area has climbed to 11 with four more bodies recovered from the premises, police said on Friday.
Four people were injured in the fire that broke out on Thursday evening and are undergoing treatment at a hospital, they said.
The charred bodies of the 11 victims were recovered from the factory, which also houses chemical godowns, located in Alipur's Dayalpur market, a Delhi Fire Services (DFS) official said.
The fire was preceded by a blast and soon it spread to nearby buildings, including a drug rehabilitation centre and eight shops.
The DFS official said a call about the fire was received around 5:30 pm on Thursday and 22 fire tenders were pressed into service.
The blaze was brought under control by 9 pm, he said, adding that 11 charred bodies were recovered from the factory premises.
In a post on X, DFS chief Atul Garg said, "Despite best efforts by DFS, 11 labours died in paint factory fire in alipur area Delhi. Fire call was received @ 5.30 pm and 22 tenders were to the site but due to explosion building collapsed & workers trapped inside the factory and couldn't not be saved. Very very unfortunate day."
A police officer said it is suspected that the blast was caused by chemicals stored in the godowns.
The four injured have been identified as Jyoti (42), Divya (20), Mohit Solanki (34), and police constable Karambir (35). They have been admitted to Raja Harish Chandra Hospital, the officer said.
The bodies have been preserved at Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital and the process of identifyin them is being carried out, police said.
Despite best efforts by DFS,11 labours died in paint factory fire in alipur area Delhi. fire call was received@5.30 pm & 22 tenders were to the site but due to explosion building collapsed & workers trapped in side the factory and couldn't not be saved. Very very unfortunate day. pic.twitter.com/KicTnNUJTe
— Atul Garg (@AtulGargDFS) February 16, 2024
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Chadha, others wouldn't have left AAP had it followed 'right' path: Anna Hazare
Mumbai (PTI): Social activist Anna Hazare has said Raghav Chadha and six other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha members would not have quit the party had it followed the "right" path.
"Everyone has the right to hold an opinion in a democracy. They (Chadha and others) must have faced some trouble, which is why they left," Hazare told reporters on Friday in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra.
AAP Rajya Sabha members Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak addressed a joint press conference in Delhi on Friday, announcing their exit from the Arvind Kejriwal-led party to join the BJP.
Chadha claimed that nearly two-thirds of AAP's Rajya Sabha members had quit the party and would function as a separate faction.
"It is their (AAP leadership’s) fault. Had that party followed the right way, they would not have left," Hazare said.
Hazare reiterated that Chadha and others must have faced difficulties within AAP, and that is why they left. "Had the party gone in the right direction, they would not have quit the party," he added.
"There must be some or the other reason (for their leaving AAP). In a democracy, every person has a view about where to stay and leave," Hazare said.
The Chadha-led exodus marks a significant setback for the Kejriwal-led party since its formation in 2012, which followed the momentum of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement.
