Noida: 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.Ram Bahadur, assistant director in the factories department, said the building itself was operating beyond approved limits. “The terrace had been covered with a tin shed and was being used for storage, even though the fire department’s NOC approved only two basements and three floors. That terrace structure, definitely, was not part of the sanctioned plan,” he added.The senior official also said that the factory had failed to leave the required open space around the building, which may have hampered emergency access. “Mandatory setback space was not maintained, which could have obstructed the movement of fire tenders and rescue teams. More than 300 people were working there at the time of the incident. On the whole, the unit employs over 700 people in shifts,” Bahadur said.The inspection also pointed to serious electrical lapses. “The fire appears to have started with a short circuit, possibly linked to poor wiring maintenance, faulty insulation or excessive electrical load. During the inspection, no records of routine electrical safety checks could be produced,” he said.Officials also found around 50 tonnes of polycarbonate and 200 litres of conformal coating chemicals stored without prescribed safeguards. “Hazardous materials were being kept without adequate safety measures, which significantly increased the intensity and spread of the flames,” Bahadur said.The report further noted that regular fire drills were not being conducted, which pointed to a wider lack of emergency preparedness. Officials said manufacturing will remain suspended until structural repairs, safety audits and required certifications are completed. Strict legal and administrative action has been recommended against the factory’s owner and manager for negligence and safety violations.
