New Delhi: A massive fire broke out at a factory in Delhi’s Peeragarhi early Thursday morning. During rescue operations a blast occurred, causing the collapse of the factory building in which several people, including fire brigade personnel are still trapped.


A firefighter succumbed to injuries after he got trapped under the debris for about 9 hours at a battery manufacturing factory which caught fire early on Thursday, in Outer Delhi's Mundka area. Rescue operations are underway. "Fire operator Amit Balayan could not survive," the DFS chief Atul Garg told news agency IANS.

Seventeen other people, who were rescued from the building, have been admitted to a nearby private hospital. After nine hour long rescue operation by the Delhi Fire Service and the NDRF, 18 people including 15 firefighters have been rescued, the DFS had said earlier.

Several people, including firefighters, remain trapped under the debris of the factory. 13 fire brigade personnel have been rescued so far, an official said. The factory is being run by the Okaya company, which manufactures batteries.

However at about 9 a.m. a blast took place in the building causing a major portion of the building to collapse. In the collapsed building, two caretakers of the factory and a security guard along with 15 firefighters got stuck in the debris. "The building at Udoh Nagar area collapsed following an explosion when firefighters were dousing the blaze," an official said, adding that the fire department had received a call at 4.23 am.

People, including fire personnel, are trapped inside, the official added. The officials are though yet to comment on the reason for the blast, but initial reports say, battery manufacturing items in the factory may have ignited the blast.

"We have rescued everyone inside the building but while I was inside for the rescue operation, I could feel the building shaking. The entire structure might collapse," the DFS chief Atul Garg said as he helped the last man rescue from the building.

Informing about the incident, Garg said, "A call for fire in a factory was received at 4.23 a.m. on Thursday. Accordingly, 7 fire tenders were sent to the spot. However the fire was followed by a sudden blast, due to which the building collapsed."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was monitoring the situation. "V sad to hear this. Am closely monitoring the situation. Fire personnel trying their best. Praying for the safety of those trapped," Kejriwal tweeted.

(With inputs from agencies)