Bawana factory fire: Owner of the factory, Manoj Jain, arrested by Delhi Police

The Delhi police on Sunday arrested the woner of the factory Manoj Jain in connection with fire that ripped through a two-storeyed factory in outer Delhi's Bawana industrial area killing 17 people.

Seventeen people were killed and two injured in a massive blaze at a firecracker storage unit in outer Delhi's Bawana industrial area this evening, a Delhi Fire Services official said, even as the city government ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The fire, which started at the storage unit on the ground floor of a two-storey building, ripped through the structure, the official said. Ten women and seven men were killed, another fire official said, noting that a man and woman were injured.

The two injured -- Roop Prakash (in his 20s) and Sunita (in her 40s) -- have been admitted to a hospital. The police said an FIR has been registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible material.

The maximum punishment under the sections is 10 years. The police said they have identified the owners and they will be questioned.

The Delhi Fire Services received a call about the blaze at the factory around 6.20 pm and 10 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, the fire department said, adding the fire has been brought under control.

OneIndia News