by Peerzada Arshad Hamid
NEW DELHI, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Crowds swelled outside a narrow lane at congested Anaj Mandi locality on Rani Jhansi Road in New Delhi since Sunday morning.
Dozens of firefighters from the city's Delhi Fire Service lined on the road. Hoses fitted with their pump panels snaked inside the dark alley leading toward a multi-storey building that was gutted in a devastating fire, so far killing 43 and injuring many others.
At the mouth of the lane, dozens of policemen kept the crowds at bay. Closeby personnel from civil defense formed a human chain to restrict people from moving deep inside.
The men in uniform have placed barricades to impede anyone trying to reach the building. Meanwhile, the disaster response force personnel wearing gas masks and carrying oxygen cylinders hurriedly rushed inside.
"The fire has been doused completely and right now we are carrying out searches for survivors and bodies in the congested area," Prakash Anand, a firefighter said. "We want to make it sure the building is completely searched."
Early Sunday morning the Indian capital woke up to a horrific fire tragedy at a building in Anaj Mandi, a congested locality with many old buildings. According to residents, the building was occupied by non-local workers and was serving as their work station and residential complex.
The skilled laborers occupying various floors of the building were making handbags, luggage and toys, or manufacturing packaging material and doing glasswork.
"All of them were non-locals and were working there for the past five years and so," Rahul Kumar, a guard at a nearby shop said.
Kumar said the devastating blaze broke out at around 5:00 a.m. local time when almost everyone in the neighborhood was asleep. The noise outside alerted Kumar, who rushed downstairs to enquire about it.
"Everyone was moving helter-skelter," he said. "After about half an hour people were shouting to inform fire service department and police."
Officials said they received first distress call about the fire at around 5:22 a.m. local time after which they rushed fire engines and firefighters to the spot.
Mohammed Khalid Hussain, a man in his late 30s, tried to convince policemen to let him inside the lane. Hussain, who lives blocks away from the spot, said his friends were residing inside the building.
"I want to go inside and see what happened to them," Hussain said. "They are from my village and were making handbags there. I talked to them over the phone last night and they told me they work until 4:00 in the morning."
Like Hussain, 60-year-old Shahzaduddin, waited for the police to let people move inside so that he could enquire about his neighbors and friends.
"I used to live here until a year back but now I live a few blocks away," he said. "I want to see if everyone there is alright and pray for the safety of my neighbors."
Shahzaduddin said when he arrived at the spot rescuers were removing victims to nearby hospitals in ambulances.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. However, in hushed tones, people blamed the short-circuit inside the bag manufacturing unit operating in the building for the massive blaze.
The area is part of Sadar Bazaar, the city's largest commercial market.
In Delhi's old localities many factories and small manufacturing units have been set up in old and cramped quarters, where the rent is relatively cheaper.
Such places double up as living places for the poor, mostly migrant laborers and workers, who try to save money on accommodation and then earn much more by working for long hours.
It was not immediately known as to how many people were residing inside the building at the time of the fire.
According to fire service officials, the victims were rushed to RML hospital, Lady Hardinge Hospital, LNJP Hospital and Hindu Rao Hospital.
"Thirty-four were brought dead here and 14 are admitted here," said a health official at LNJP hospital.
According to the health official, the deaths were caused due to smoke inhalation and some bodies bore burn marks as well.
The local government in Delhi has ordered an inquiry and announced monetary compensation for the victims.
"We have lost more than 40 innocent lives to the tragic fire. I've ordered a magisterial inquiry into its cause, no culprit will be spared," Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister told media.
"We can't bring back lost lives, but Delhi gov't will provide 10 Lakh rupees (14,025 U.S. dollars) in assistance to families that lost their loved ones and 1 lakh rupees (1,402 U.S. dollars) for each injured."
In February, 17 people were killed and many others injured after a fire engulfed a hotel in Karol Bagh area of Delhi.
In June 1997, a total of 59 were killed and over 100 others injured after a fire broke out at the Uphaar cinema hall during the screening of Bollywood film.
Chances of fire in Indian buildings are usually high as people ignore safety standards.
