New Delhi: The four-storey factory in Mangolpuri, which caught fire Friday night, had several structural and fire-safety shortcomings, including no windows, congested staircases, locked gates and inadequate ventilation, which allowed smoke to accumulate inside the building, workers and fire officials have said.
A guard said factories began coming up in the locality around 15 years ago and it had since turned into a cluster of footwear manufacturing units.
Locals said small fires were common in the area. “There was no ventilation, the staircase was cluttered with goods, and the basement was packed with shoe-making materials,” a fire official said. Fire officials told TOI that the building had a lift, which was used to transport goods. “The fire started in the basement, and the lift shaft allowed smoke to reach the upper floors, leading to suffocation,” an official said.
The area where the fire broke out is dotted with similar factories. Most buildings allegedly don’t have windows and emergency exits. For fire officials, bringing the blaze under control proved to be a daunting task.