Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal Friday morning visited the site where a massive fire had broken out in a paint factory in North Delhi’s Alipur Thursday evening, killing at least 11 people and leaving four others injured. Taking stock of the situation, CM announced an ex-gratia payment to the families of the deceased and those injured in the fire incident and ordered an inquiry into the incident.
As for the fire incident, Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials said that the blaze at the Dayal Market of Alipur started on the ground floor of the factory, trapping the victims on the floors above with no way out. The building also houses a chemical warehouse, said a DFS official.
After the fire broke out on Thursday evening, four persons were sent to the Satyawadi Raja Harish Chandra Hospital, Narela while 11 people were taken to the Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial (BJRM) Hospital, JahangirPuri. The doctors at the BJRM hospital declared those brought dead.
Eyewitnesses who saw the clouds of smoke billowing out of the factory on Thursday evening said the fire was preceded by a blast and soon it spread to nearby buildings, including some shops and houses.
CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “We will fully assess the government’s policy regarding the shops and houses that were burnt. I just told the DM and the loss incurred will be compensated as per the government’s policy.”
The CM said two more issues are coming out of the incident. CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal ordered an inquiry as to why there was a delay in the arrival of fire tenders at the site. “One, an allegation is being made that the fire brigade had come late. I will order an inquiry into it and whoever is guilty of this, will not be spared,” he assured the people in the vicinity of the incident site at Alipur.
Shri Arvind Kejriwal also assured the people of the area of holding an inquiry as to how the paint factory was running in the residential area. “Two, how this factory was running in a residential area, it will also be investigated that how such a combustible factory was running in a residential area, action will also be taken soon,” he said.
After interacting with the locals in Alipur, Delhi CM Shri Kejriwal in a post on X, said, “The fire that broke out here yesterday is a matter of great sadness. They are saying that there was a paint factory, and we know how inflammable paint is, and due to the fire, the chemicals in it started flowing into the drains and everything in the surrounding area caught fire. The shops and the houses nearby caught fire. Eleven people have died in this, four people are said to be injured. Our condolences to the families of those who died and a compensation amount of Rs 10 lakh will be given to each family. No price can be put on anyone’s death, but we will do whatever we can to help. The two injured who had minor injuries will be given Rs 20,000 each and the two who had major injuries will be given Rs 2 lakh each.”
