Smoke is seen at the shoe factory.
Credit: X/@ANI
New Delhi: At least seven people were killed and four injured in a fire that broke out in a paint factory in outer Delhi's Alipur on Thursday evening, police said.
The charred bodies of the seven victims were found from the premises of the factory located in Alipur's Dayalpur Market, an official said. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital.
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) official said a call about the incident was received at 5.25 pm and 22 fire-tenders were pressed into service.
The blaze was brought under control by 9 pm, he said, adding that the cooling-off operation is underway.
Police said the fire was preceded by a blast in the factory. It is suspected that the explosion occurred due to chemicals, an official said.
An officer said a few more people are missing and a search operation is on.
"Teams have been formed to investigate the matter," the officer said.