GURGAON: At least 25 people who sustained burns after a blast inside a steel factory in Faridabad’s Mujesar industrial area were onlookers. Dr Jayant Ahuja, Faridabad chief medical officer (CMO), confirmed that one person was critical with over 55% burns and was on a ventilator at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital.According to senior fire officials, after a short circuit triggered the fire, most people inside Shiv Steel Company were firemen and police and the situation was under control.First responders were laying hose pipes to douse the flames when the fire caught on, spreading to uncovered oil and chemical drums, triggering a series of explosions and a massive inferno. The boundary wall collapsed and iron drums (200 litres each) containing highly inflammable substances at the adjacent Kalkaji Lubricants workshop also exploded.After hearing multiple blasts, workers from nearby units and passersby gathered at the site, contributing to the high number of casualties. Officials said that the factory owners had already evacuated the staff when the fire first started. However, the subsequent blasts caused injuries to the owner and the crowd of bystanders outside.“The injury was not due to the fire. It was the onlookers who did not listen to the authorities and went near the spot despite several warnings,” an officer said, describing how people gathered out of curiosity to see what was happening. “Those who went to look… the blast wave hit them,” the officer added.According to doctors, while 14 patients reached BK Hospital on Monday, 23 were admitted to Fortis Hospital. Eight out of 37 patients were shifted to AIIMS and Safdarjung hospitals by creating green corridors. On Tuesday, six patients were left in BK Hospital. Doctors confirmed that the patients currently admitted to the civil hospital were stable.Dr Ahuja also emphasised the need for public awareness during such disasters. “Wherever emergency or fire vehicles are operating, the public should give them a working area and avoid looking on. Create a safe zone and maintain a proper distance from the incident site. There could have been zero injuries in case the onlookers followed the safety protocol,” he said.Abhishek, who damaged his right eardrum due to the blast, said, “My brother Krishna works at Kalkaji Lubricants. He called me to inform me about the fire. When my brother-in-law Ravinder and I reached the site and stood near the workshop to observe the fire operations, suddenly there were multiple blasts in the chemical drums. The area went dark after the smoke rings engulfed the area. The three of us were injured. I feel acute pain in my ears. Ravinder and Krishna are unconscious.”Another person injured in the incident was Vipin, who is admitted to BK Hospital. His cousin Dalbir said Vipin was fortunate enough to survive, but he also went to the site to observe the operations.Dr Ahuja said emergency services responded rapidly, with an ambulance response time of 8 to 10 minutes. Twelve ambulances from the civil hospital were dispatched simultaneously to manage the casualty load, he said. Fortis Hospital also sent ambulances to the spot.
