The death count in Friday night’s fire at one of the factories of Lakhani Footwear Ltd at Faridabad, near Delhi, has risen to 10. It may rise further, as five workers are still said to be missing. Many others are in hospital.
An official inquiry has been ordered into the incident. The district administration is discussing compensation for the kin of the dead with the factory management.
Lakhani, which says it is the country’s largest maker and exporter of canvas and vulcanised shoes, and of beach slippers, has two dozen units in the district.
The fire broke out when the factory, located in Sector 24 of the industrial town, was about to shut for the day on Friday. There was a blast, followed by flames that engulfed the packaging department. It spread quickly, stoked by the materials used in making shoes, which are primarily chemicals mixed with rubber.
Three workers were recovered dead, six succumbed to injuries in Delhi’s Safdarjang Hospital and the 10th died in Sarvodaya Hospital in Faridabad. The families of the missing five have filed complaints with the police.
The district administration told a news agency that an inquiry commission, under the deputy labour commissioner, had been constituted to examine all aspects of the happening.
Thirty fire tenders, including some from Gurgaon, Palwal and Hodal, were pressed into service.
