Some people are believed to still be buried under the debris and the death toll is expected to rise further. Meanwhile, the condition of those who are hospitalized remains critical.
Three people were rescued from the fire in this warehouse located at Nanukaka Estate on Piplaj Road, Ahmedabad. According to the head of the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Service, the explosion in the nearby chemical unit took place first and after that, the building of this textile warehouse collapsed and caught fire. 12 vehicles have been deployed to extinguish the fire. Sources say that there was no fire safety system in this unit either.
According to locals, the first 5 consecutive blasts took place in the chemical unit. The textile warehouse owner has alleged that this chemical factory was being run illegally. At present, forensic investigation of the incident is also going on with relief and rescue work. Fire Department official Jayesh Khadia said that 12 people were taken out of the debris and taken to LG Hospital.
He said that there was an exploded in the building on Pirana-Piplaj road due to the fire. The warehouse was inside this building. The hospital said in a statement that out of the 12 injured, four were declared dead as soon as they were brought there and the other eight are undergoing treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to express anguish over the tragic incident and sent his condolences to the bereaved.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also gave his condolences and sent prayers for the injured. His tweet in Hindi translates to, "The report of a fire in a textile warehouse in Ahmedabad is extremely saddening. The local administration is busy providing all possible help at the scene. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident and pray for the injured to recover soon".