At least 12 killed in New Delhi clothing factory fire

A fire raced through a clothing factory in eastern New Delhi today, killing 12 people and injuring at least four others.

Eighteen fire engines and water tankers fought the blaze for more than two hours before they could put the fire out, said Delhi Fire Service spokesman Sushil Kumar.

The fire broke out in the basement and quickly spread through the three-storey building in New Delhi’s Vishwas Nagar neighbourhood, filling the building with dense black smoke and noxious fumes, he said.

“We’ve pulled out 12 charred bodies, and are still searching through the debris,” said Kumar.

Four people with burns were taken to a nearby hospital, he said.