Solapur factory fire: Relatives allege fire department’s delayed response led to 8 deaths

Kolhapur: Relatives of the people who died in Sunday's fire at a Solapur textile factory have raised serious concerns about the fire brigade's delayed response and inadequate firefighting equipment, which they believe contributed to the eight fatalities.Local residents and family members are seeking accountability from responsible officers. The authorities are likely to investigate the fire department's handling of the incident. Both central and state govts, meanwhile, have declared compensation for the families of the deceased and injured people.What sparked the early morning blaze is yet to be ascertained. Among the deceased were Usman Mansuri, the 87-year-old owner of Central Textile Mill, and his 18-month-old grandson."We were asking firemen to go in and save people, but they told us that they don't have safety clothes and oxygen cylinders. Only one fire tender arrived after we called. The fire department did not take the fire seriously, which led to the delay in response and, therefore, deaths," said Shadab, the brother-in-law of Usman Mansuri's son.Former MLA and CPI functionary Narsayya Adam has contacted the chief minister's office requesting a detailed investigation. He criticised the Solapur Municipal Corporation's ineffective response and called for accountability. "The fire tenders did not arrive on time. The relatives were waiting for hours, hoping that those inside would come out safely. It is clear that the machinery with the municipal corporation was inefficient. They could not carry out the rescue and stop the blaze quickly. I have demanded an inquiry into the incident," he said.Officials said the fire department received the alert at 4.10 am. Initially, an NTPC plant fire tender responded, followed by four Solapur Municipal Corporation vehicles. Additional support arrived from Akkalkot and Pandharpur councils, with over 50 tankers deployed. Three firefighters sustained burns during operations. Solapur's chief fire officer Rakesh Salunkhe cited access difficulties and rapid fire spread. Salunkhe said there wasn't enough space for the fire tenders to access the spot properly, and the firemen had to use ladders and break the grills to enter the rooms and rescue people trapped inside. He also said a huge stock of yarn stored caught fire rapidly.Municipal commissioner Sachin Ombase told TOI about the extreme temperatures, exceeding 150°C, that hampered rescue efforts. "All the fire tenders were there within 15-20 minutes. Our men had smoke equipment and oxygen cylinders, but the heat was intense, more than 150°C. For the safety of our firemen, the decision was taken first to douse the fire. There were other limitations. The MIDC is more than 30 years old. Over the years, operators have packed the premises and utilised free spaces for residential purposes. We are going to review the safety conditions in the MIDC areas. We have also proposed another fire station near the MIDC area. Also, we will upgrade the safety gear of our fire department," he saidThe victims were cremated in Solapur, with industrial workers and associates paying their respects.President condoles; PMO, CMO announce ex gratiaPresident of India Draupadi Murmu wrote on her X account, "The news of several people losing their lives due to a fire breaking out in a factory in Solapur, Maharashtra, is extremely distressing. I express my deepest condolences to all the grieving families and pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured."Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allocated Rs 2 lakh to the deceased victims' families and Rs 50,000 to the injured through the Prime Minister National Relief Fund. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for each bereaved family.