Officials reported that four workers were injured in a blast caused by a fire at a namkeen factory in Najafgarh, southwest Delhi, on Saturday morning.
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) official stated that a call about the fire was received at 8:16 am, leading to the deployment of 17 fire tenders to the scene.
According to the official, the fire broke out on the ground floor of the two-storey building.
The official added that four workers inside the factory were injured in a blast caused by the fire and were subsequently taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for treatment.
Officials stated that efforts to extinguish the fire are currently underway.
Delhi’s December History with Fire
During the Diwali weekend from October 31 to November 1, Delhi saw a significant rise in fire-related incidents, with over 700 calls logged. This marked a notable increase compared to previous years, with 318 calls on October 31 and 403 on November 1.
A fire erupted at the Jungle Jamboree restaurant in Rajouri Garden on December 9, causing panic among nearby students, some of whom jumped from the building to flee. The fire was reported around 2 PM, prompting the dispatch of 10 fire tenders to control the situation. Fortunately, only one person suffered minor injuries, and no fatalities were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
As of December 2024, the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) has received 1,610 calls, compared to 2,365 calls in December 2023. The data reflects a troubling and consistent rise in fire incidents across the city throughout the year.
The increase in fire incidents has been attributed to severe pollution, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching hazardous levels of over 1,200 at times. This extreme pollution has not only worsened air quality but also contributed to a rise in fire-related emergencies across the city.
