Of the victims in the fire in Bawana area, 11 – nine women and two men – have been identified, deputy commissioner of police Rajneesh Gupta said.
Those dead were identified as Baby Devi, 40, Afshana, 35, Sonam, 23, Reeta, 18, Madeena, 55, Rajjo, 65, Sukhda, 42, Khusna, 47, Soni, 21, Suraj, 20 and Ravi Kant, 18.
Gupta said a forensic team has reached the spot to investigate the reason for the blast, while the owner of the plastic factory which was also used as a warehouse for fire crackers has been arrested.
Manoj Jain was taken into custody on Saturday night after a brief interrogation as police filed charges against him under sections for negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others under the Indian Penal Code and the Explosives Act, he said.
“Jain runs the factory which he had taken on rent since January 1 this year,” said Gupta, adding that according to an injured labourer, packing of crackers was being done at the factory.
Delhi Industries and Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain told reporters that a probe committee has been set up and strict action will be taken after the report is submitted.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday announced an ex-gratia of Rs500,000 to the next of kin of the dead.
Kejriwal also assured the survivors that a probe would be launched into how a licence was given to the establishment and who sanctioned the same.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoj Tiwari also announced a compensation of Rs50,000 each to the victims of the accident.
Gupta said the fire in Bawana industrial area was reported to the police control room around 6.20pm, following which 10 fire tenders rushed to the spot. The blaze was doused in three hours.
The victims were trapped in the basement and the first and second floors when the fire spread from the basement to the floors above, the officer said.
Meanwhile the Delhi unit of the Congress yesterday demanded a judicial probe into the tragedy.
“We demand a judicial inquiry into the fire since the magisterial inquiry ordered by the state government is meant to save its own departments. We also demand a judicial inquiry for a fair probe,” Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken told reporters after visiting the spot.
The Congress leader said there should also be an inquiry into the functioning of all Delhi government departments concerned, like the Delhi Fire Service, land, industries, and pollution, as well as the municipal corporations.
The former minister also condemned North Delhi mayor Preeti Agarwal for what he called her “insensitive statement”.
“She spoke insensitively. She has no moral right to continue in the post and the Bharatiya Janata Party must take action against her,” Maken said.
Th ex-minister was referring to Agarwal’s alleged video wherein she is heard saying: “The licence of this factory is with us. That’s why we cannot speak on the issue.”
The Congress leader said labourers at the factory had told him that the premises was locked from the outside when the fire broke out.
“There was rampant unauthorised construction on the premises, which obstructed possible escape routes,” he alleged.
He said over 50 labourers were working at the premises on Saturday, which is a holiday.
Hitting out at the Delhi government, Maken said that the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Bawana government hospital was also not operational for a long time.
“People told me the ICU has been lying closed for the last two months. It is saddening to learn that the hospital ICU in an industrial area was not operational. We demand the government make the ICU operational as soon as possible,” he added.
