One dies in Karol Bagh garment factory fire

Cause of early-morning blaze unknown

A 35-year-old labourer was killed when a major fire broke out in a garment factory in central Delhi’s Karol Bagh in the early hours on Saturday. The deceased died of asphyxiation, the police said.

The victim who has been identified as Jumman, a native of Bihar, was found in the washroom on the second floor of the building where the fire broke out.

According to a fire official, the call was made at 4.50 a.m. stating that the fire broke out in the garment factory and two men were trapped inside.

“Four fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the fire was doused by 6 a.m. During the operation, one man (Jumman) was found unconscious in the toilet,” he said.

Jumman was then taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Narrow staircase

An eyewitness, Sunder Lal, who runs a shop close to the building, said that four-five labourers were working through the night and suspects that Jumman got stuck because of the narrow staircase which serves as the only entry and exit point.

“All of them rushed out as soon as the fire broke out, but the staircase leading to the second floor is extremely narrow. The man got stuck because of that and went inside the washroom instead,” he said.

Case registered

A senior police officer said that they have registered a case under Section 304A (causing death due to negligence) and have begun probe. “A factory of stitching pants was running on the second floor. The cause of the fire hasn’t been ascertained so far. The owner of the factory is also being questioned,” he said.