New Delhi, Jan 21: Hours after a massive fire broke out at a firecracker unit in outer Delhi’s Bawana industrial area, killing 17 people and injuring two, police said that the building owner had obtained a licence for a plastic factory but was running an illegal firecracker storage unit instead.
Speaking to reporters, Rohini Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajneesh Gupta, a case has been registered under IPC sections 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) and 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and a co-owner of the unit, Manoj Jain, was apprehended.
“Manoj Jain has been apprehended. As per the information, the two partners were there. Manoj Jain and Lalit Goel. It is to be verified whether they are the owners or have taken the premises on rent,” he said.
“We found that the owner was running a plastic factory. But he was using the building as an illegal firecracker storage unit. We will interrogate the owner about the licence and negligence on his part,” Gupta added.
Earlier on Saturday, 17 people were killed and several others injured in a tragic fire accident that took place at a firecracker factory in sector 5 of Bawana industrial area.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ordered an inquiry into the fire while announcing an ex-gratia of Rs.5 lakhs to the family of the deceased and Rs. 1 lakh to injured.
Delhi industries minister Satyendar Jain also took congnisance of the tragedy and tweeted, “Learnt about a serious fire incident in a private factory at Bawana. Several casualties. Monitoring the situation. Have ordered an enquiry.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed anguish over the incident. He said his thoughts were with the victims. “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,” tweeted PM Modi.