At Least 43 People Die in New Delhi Factory Fire

(Bloomberg) -- At least 43 people died in a blaze in New Delhi early Sunday morning, authorities said.

The fire broke out in a factory operating in a residential area, Anil Mittal, a spokesman for the Delhi police said. The state government will give 1 million rupees ($14,000) to support families of those who died and 100,000 rupees to those injured, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

“Authorities are providing all possible assistance at the site of the tragedy,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on Twitter. “The fire in Delhi’s Anaj Mandi on Rani Jhansi Road is extremely horrific.”

The fire occurred in Delhi’s old area, where narrow and congested lanes are home to many small manufacturing and storage units. Building laws and safety norms are commonly flouted in these places.

Kejriwal also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the cause of the fire and promised to take action against those responsible.

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