The co-owner of the factory, which collapsed in West Delhi's Moti Nagar area, has been arrested by the West district police on Saturday. A boiler blast in the building led to the collapse, killing seven people, including a child. The other owner of the factory is undergoing treatment and is stated to be critical.
The accused has been identified as Sumit Gupta, a resident of Rohtak area. Investigating officers said that the boiler, which was being used in the factory, was around 9-10 years old and ill-maintained as well. Since it was old, it had several leakes.
Cops says that it is possible that the explosion was caused due to the extreme temperature of the boiler. A team of forensic experts also visited the factory on Saturday in order to look for more evidence.
According to the locals, Ankit Gupta's, one of the owners who is critical, father had started the factory after buying the property. The rent was Rs 20,000 for the two-storeyed building. Officials of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) had confirmed on Friday that the commercial activity was run illegally in the building.
According to police, the deceased were identified as Ajay Bahadur, 19, Munger, 55, Ramphal, 45, Rajesh, 40, Ajay, 25, Sanjay Pratap, 18, and Hanshu, 6, while the eight injured are Ankit Gupta, Gangesh, Munna, Manju, Surender, Ashok, Rakesh, and Bachhai Patel.
“Ankit Gupta is the owner of the illegal factory who is undergoing treatment. A case under sections 287 (Negligent conduct with respect to machinery), 288 (Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304 A (Causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered,” said a senior police officer.
According to the Chief Fire Officer (Delhi Fire Services) Atul Garg, the factory was running inside the house and it didn’t have a fire NOC. SDMC officials claimed that the nature of work carried out in the factory was being ascertained — whether it was a ceiling-fan or paint-making unit. According to the residents, the factory door was locked from inside.
Flouting Norms
- An SDMC official had said that the civic body had sent a closure notice to the factory on Dec 21
- The official also said that sealing was slated to be carried out next week, which proves that the unit was effectively running illegally. A local was injured while trying to rescue the people
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