At Noida factory where fire trapped 350, dead alarm, blocked exits

A week after a pre-dawn fire tore through a factory in Sector 4, trapping workers in upper floors filled with smoke and forcing some to jump to survive, a govt inspection has laid bare a chain of glaring safety failures at the unit.

The inspection found non-functional smoke

detectors, blocked internal passages and exit routes, unsafe storage of flammable material, and suspected electrical neglect at Capital Power Systems Limited, where one worker died and more than 35 were injured in the blaze on March 12.

The fire broke out around 5.30am, when about 350 employees were inside the factory. As flames and thick smoke barrelled up the building, many workers were stranded on the upper floors.

Several jumped in panic to escape, causing fractures and injuries. Firefighters took three days to fully extinguish the blaze. Five days later, a worker’s body was recovered from the basement as the water was drained out.

The joint inspection, which was carried out by the factories and labour department on Wednesday, found multiple violations of the Factories Act, 1948, especially in fire safety, electrical systems and the handling of hazardous material.

Officials have now ordered an immediate halt to manufacturing at the unit and initiated legal action against the owner.

A case has also been filed against him at the CJM court.

Source: https://timesofindia