New Delhi: The four-storey factory in Mangolpuri, which caught fire Friday night, had several structural and fire-safety shortcomings, including no windows, congested staircases, locked gates and inadequate ventilation, which allowed smoke to accumulate inside the building, workers and fire officials have said.The shoe and slipper manufacturing unit had only one access point, the main entrance, while large gates opening outwards on each floor were kept locked to prevent theft. There was no alternative exit for workers to use during an emergency. Four workers died in the fire while two others were injured.The area where the fire broke out is dotted with similar factories. A guard said factories began coming up in the locality around 15 years ago and it had since turned into a cluster of footwear manufacturing units. Most buildings allegedly don’t have windows and emergency exits. Locals said small fires were common in the area.Workers said the staircase was so congested with goods and materials that two persons could not pass each other easily. The narrow passage also made movement between floors difficult.For fire officials, bringing the blaze under control proved to be a daunting task. “There was no ventilation, the staircase was cluttered with goods, and the basement was packed with shoe-making materials,” a fire official said. The smoke was so dense that firefighters had to use breathing apparatus sets to enter the building and carry out the rescue operation. One team entered the premises through an adjoining building.Manoj, a worker who had stepped out for dinner around 9pm, returned around 9.40pm to find smoke billowing from the building. Night shifts are common during the festive season because of large orders and one such shift was underway when the fire broke out. Several workers were inside, ready to work through the night.“The fire started in the basement while workers were on the first floor. As smoke spread, the electricity went off, plunging the building into darkness. Workers panicked and ran upstairs. The bodies were found on the second floor,” Manoj said.Fire officials told TOI that the building had a lift, which was used to transport goods. “The fire started in the basement, and the lift shaft allowed smoke to reach the upper floors, leading to suffocation,” an official said.Officials added that there was no ventilation in the basement or on the first floor, while the areas meant for exhaust fans were also sealed. The lift shaft was the only vertical passage through which smoke could travel, further complicating the rescue operation.
