Bawana warehouse fire: 17 killed, factory owner Manoj Jain arrested by Delhi Police

New Delhi: The owner of a firecracker unit in outer Delhi's Bawana industrial area where a massive fire broke out on Saturday resulting in the death of at least 17 people has now been arrested by the Delhi Police.

Manoj Jain, the co-owner of the unit who was taken into custody late on Saturday, has been arrested, Rohini Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajneesh Gupta informed reporters.

"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.

Gupta also said that as per an injured labour of the factory, packing was being done in the factory. 

"The crackers used to come from outside," he said. The cause of the fire is not yet known," DCP Gupta said.

A man who jumped from the second floor of the building in a bid to save himself later succumbed to injuries at a hospital.

The victims were trapped in the basement, first and second floors when the fire spread from the basement to the floors above, the police officer said.

#SpotVisuals Seventeen killed in a fire which broke out at a plastic godown in Bawana Industrial Area #Delhi pic.twitter.com/GBDRjacBg1 — ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2018

The industrial area recorded three fires on Saturday - the first around 4 pm in a carpet manufacturing company in Sector 1, the second in the firecracker unit in Sector 5, and the third in Sector 3 at 7.30 pm.

"We had received three calls. One was from 3:55 at Sector 1 from a carpet manufacturing company, the second was at 6:20 from bomb storage factory and third was at 7:30 from Sector 3," said GC Mishra director, Delhi Fire Department.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday visited the incident spot and ordered an inquiry into the Bawana Industrial area fire. 

I received information about the incident on phone at around 9 pm & we immediately rushed to the spot. Situation is under control now: North #Delhi Mayor Preety Aggarwal pic.twitter.com/QqeLqtgNtP — ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2018

"It is an unfortunate incident. The Delhi government has ordered an inquiry into it. After inquiry we will get to know the reason of the fire," he said.

"The loss is irreparable. The Delhi government will give ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakhs to the family of the people, killed in the fire and Rs. 1 lakh to the injured," he announced.

The bodies of the deceased people have been sent for post-mortem, while injured have been admitted to the hospital, the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister said the matter will be fully probed on how the licence was given, who gave it and how the incident happened.

Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoj Tiwari and Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta and North Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Preety Agarwal also reached the spot.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister JP Nadda directed Health Secretary to provide immediate assistance to victims of the fire tragedy and also asked AIIMS Trauma Centre to be on alert.

North Delhi Mayor Preety Aggarwal later said that the situation is now under control.

"I received information about the incident on phone at around 9 pm and we immediately rushed to the spot. The situation is under control now," she told media. 

Delhi Industries Minister Satyendar Jain also took cognizance 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 inquiry."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over it and said, "My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. May those who are injured recover quickly." 

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: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 20, 2018

Meanwhile, a blame game has also started between BJP and the AAP over the tragedy with the latter blaming the former for granting license to the factory owners without proper verification and keeping mum after the incident. 

The bodies have been kept in the mortuary for identification.

The relatives of some of the deceased and the injured have been informed.

(With Agency inputs)