Kanpur. Two people were burnt alive in a fire that broke out in a leather shoe-slipper factory in a residential area, flouting all rules and regulations. The fire started due to a short circuit on the first floor of a five-storey building. The couple and their three daughters were trapped on the third and fourth floors.
DCP Central Dinesh Tripathi said that two bodies were found on the third floor. SDRF took them out at 3 am. The children’s bedrooms are on the fourth floor. The rescue team was unable to reach there due to the heat. Before this, ten fire engines were engaged in extinguishing the fire.
The fire that broke out late at night took a terrible form
Meanwhile, an elderly person was taken out. A hydraulic platform was brought at 12:15 am, which accelerated the rescue operation. The fire was brought under control at 1 pm, but there was a hindrance due to the smoke. Meanwhile, the fire broke out again at 1:20 pm. At around 1:45 pm, the firefighters entered inside after extinguishing the fire, but the fire broke out again on the first floor. The fire could be controlled at 2:45 am.
There were no security arrangements
There was no emergency exit in the building, nor were there any arrangements for extinguishing the fire. The firefighters had to face difficulties due to the narrow road. The building belongs to Mo. Kashif. There is a shoe-slipper factory on the first and second floor, while Kashif and brother Danish’s family lived on the third and fourth floors. There is also a lift in the building.
The building was rocked by three blasts
The fire first started on the first floor and three blasts occurred one after the other. After this, when the fire reached the third floor, two more loud blasts occurred. The third blast occurred five minutes later. It is suspected that LPG cylinders must have burst. The fire reached the fifth floor in a span of just 20 minutes.
The area echoed with the screams of the family
Mistahul Haq Israt Iraqi, a resident of Jajmau, said that his 45-year-old nephew Danish, his wife Nazreen, 15-year-old daughter Sara, 12-year-old Simra and seven-year-old Inaya were on the third floor of the building. Danish’s elderly father Aqeel was evacuated safely.
“The fire has been brought under control. Survivors are being searched for.” Deepak Sharma, Chief Fire Officer
SDRF recovered two bodies at 3 am. Kashif and his family were in Jajmau at the time of the accident. Danish informed them about the fire at night, but after that his phone was switched off. Four fire engines had reached on information, but seeing the fire increasing, more vehicles were immediately called from Kidwai Nagar, Jajmau, Colonelganj, Latouch Road and Fazalganj fire stations.
More than 60 firefighters engaged in relief work
More than 60 firefighters remained engaged in relief work till late night. Late night fire brigade teams entered the building by breaking the wall. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reached at around 1:45 am for rescue work. At the same time, forces of many police stations including ADCP Central were also present on the spot.
