Forty-three people were killed when a fire broke out at a luggage manufacturing factory in a crowded area in north Delhi.

Most of the people who died were labourers who were sleeping at the factory in Anaj Mandi on Rani Jhansi Road when the fire broke out at 5 am.

The cause of the fire is not known, officials said, adding that over 50 people were inside the factory when the fire broke out. Thirty fire trucks are at the site and have taken the situation under control. The fire is suspected to have started at the workshop of the bag manufacturing factory.

The fire broke out in the early hours in the area, whose narrow and congested lanes are lined with many small manufacturing and storage units.

Many people trapped inside were rescued and rushed to RML Hospital and Hindu Rao Hospital, fire officials said.

Personnels of the NDRF teams, which have reached the area to assist in rescue operations, are currently inside the building to check if anyone is stuck inside the building.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as "horrific" and prayed for the family of those killed in the fire.

The traffic police have asked people not to use Rani Jhansi flyover near New Delhi railway station as the road has been closed due to the incident.

Today's incident is the worst fire tragedy seen by the city since a similar incident in Bawana last year in which 17 labourers were charred to death.

Source: NDTV

BDST: 1150 HRS, DEC 08, 2019
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