Faridabad factory fire: Workshop owner’s son among two dead

Gurgaon: Three days after a fire and a series of explosions in Faridabad left 37 people injured, two people, including the son of one of the owners of the workshops, died on Thursday.Abhishek Monga (32) and his father Vijay, owner of Kalkaji Lubricants, had suffered serious injuries in the fire that took place at two workshops in the Mujesar industrial area on Monday. Abhishek died of injuries at 3.20am at Safdarjung Hospital. Vijay is also undergoing treatment in the same hospital.
Police said another person, Pradeep (30), died at 1.30pm at the said hospital. Both the deceased were initially admitted to Fortis Hospital in Faridabad but were referred to Delhi due to critical injuries. Police could not clarify if Pradeep was among the onlookers or a factory worker.An administrative officer said both of them were among the eight patients who were referred to Safdarjung and AIIMS hospitals by creating a green corridor on Monday night. Faridabad police spokesperson Yashpal Yadav said police and the administration are keeping a close watch on all the victims. At least 25 people who sustained burns after a blast inside the steel factory were onlookers.Preliminary findings revealed that the incident began at Shiv Steel Company, where a machine used for cutting steel caught fire while it was still operating. The owner of Shiv Steel Company, Nikhil Monga, was also among those injured, besides two firemen and three cops.As workers and first responders tried to contain the flames and pull people out, the fire spread to an adjacent unit, Kalkaji Lubricants, where highly inflammable chemical drums were stored without any cover, setting off a series of explosions.A senior fire officer said the department received the first distress call around 4.30pm. A team from NIT fire station reached within minutes, while two policemen on an emergency response vehicle also arrived at the spot. The fire team, including Ranveer and Bhavi Chand, along with driver Gopal, led the initial response. After the team received the message from Panchkula headquarters, the team immediately reached the spot without knowing that chemical drums were stored there. As the team laid hose pipes and prepared to douse the flames, a massive explosion occurred in the drums. The blast was so powerful that Ranveer was flung in the air and slammed against the fire tender parked outside, an official said. Bhavi Chand was trapped inside. He managed to crawl out despite severe injuries before collapsing. Three cops engaged in the rescue operation were also injured.Both the firemen continue to be in critical condition and are undergoing treatment in the Delhi hospital.