Sonipat: A massive fire broke out at a mattress factory in Barota village, around 25 km from Sonipat, in the early hours of Thursday, killing two workers and injuring four. Three of them are in a critical condition.It took a multi-agency operation to douse the flames and rescue workers. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was called in amid fears that several people were trapped by the flames.According to preliminary information, the fire broke out around 4 am on Thursday. Kundli fire brigade received the alert at 4.23 am and eight fire tenders from Kundli, Sector-23, Education City and other fire stations sped to the scene.Since the factory stored and manufactured inflammable materials like foam, it fuelled the inferno. It was only around 10am that the flames were brought under control, said fire officer Rameshwar.The factory suffered extensive damage and walls on three sides caved in. As the factory operated round the clock, there were concerns that workers may have been trapped. After several hours of searching the debris, NDRF personnel recovered the skeletal remains of two workers. Four workers are in a Sonipat hospital with grievous burns.Police spokesperson ASI Ravinder Singh named the victims as Kanhaiya Lal and his nephew, Sunil, natives of Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district. Their remains have been sent for post-mortem examination.According to police, no case has been registered so far but they are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident. Singh said further action would be initiated if a complaint was received.Fire officer Rameshwar said a short circuit is suspected to have sparked the fire but the exact cause will be established only after a detailed investigation.
