A fire broke out in a building where school bags, bottles and other materials were kept. The building was also used to accommodate workers, said a police officer New Delhi - At least 43 people have died and around 50 wounded after a major fire broke out in Anaj Mandi area in Central Delhi on Sunday morning. A call about the fire was received at 5.22 a.m. following which 30 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. During the rescue operation, more than 52 people trapped in the building were shifted to hospital where at least 32 succumbed to injuries during treatment. Doctors say the death toll might rise. More details are awaited. “A fire broke out in a building where school bags, bottles and other materials were kept. The building was also used to accommodate workers,” said a police officer. He added that the owner of the building has been arrested. The injured were shifted to the LNJP hospital, the RML Hospital and the Hindu Rao Hospital. A Magisterial Enquiry has been ordered into the incident and ₹10 lakh compensation announced for the kith and kin of the deceased. (As reported by Saurabh Trivedi) Follow more updates here: 1.10 PM "I told him to jump if the fire is strong..." says a victim's cousin Bhura, 50, said that he has identified his cousin, Musharraf's body at LNJP hospital. Bhura, whose cousin was killed in the fire Bhura, whose cousin was killed in the fire | Photo Credit: Nikhil M Babu "I got a call from him at 5 in the morning saying that the building is on fire. I told him to jump if the fire is strong. But he said the lanes are narrow and there are overhanging wires and he can't jump. After that the phone got disconnected," Mr. Bhura said. He said that Musharraf, from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh, is survived by wife and three children. - Nikhil M Babu reports from Delhi 1.00 PM PM announces ex-gratia Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives in the fire. The prime minister has also approved ₹50,000 each for those seriously injured in the fire, his office has said. - PTI 12.40 PM Real-life heroes Minister of Health and Power Satyendar Jain took to Twitter to appreciate the services of fireman Rajesh Shukla, who was reportedly the first fireman to enter the buillding. Minister of Health Satyendar Jain meets fireman Rajesh Shukla in the hospital Minister of Health Satyendar Jain meets fireman Rajesh Shukla in the hospital | Photo Credit: Twitter/Satyendar Jain Sharing a photo with Mr. Shukla, the Minister wrote: "Fireman Rajesh Shukla is a real hero. He was the first fireman to entered the fire spot and he saved around 11 lives. He did his job till the end despite of his bone injuries. Salute to this brave hero." 12.30 PM Delhi Police registers case against factory owner The Delhi Police registered a case against the factory owner in north Delhi where a devastating fire left 43 labourers dead. Police said a case under section 304 of IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder punishable with a maximum imprisonment of 10 years) has been registered. The case has been transferred to crime branch. - PTI 12.20 PM Power metres intact, fire might have started in internal system of building: BSES Power distribution company BYPL claimed that the fire at a factory in Anaj Mandi here appeared to have started in some “internal system” of the building. Thirty fire tenders rushed to the spot after the fire department received information about the incident. A team of BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BRPL) rushed to the spot after getting information of fire and immediately discontinued the electricity supply, according to a discom spokesperson. “It appears that the fire started in the internal system of the building,” he said. The fire occurred on the second and third floors of the factory building operating from the residential area. The electricity metres of the building were placed on the ground floor and were found to be intact, the spokesperson added. - PTI 11.40 AM Mamata condoles loss of lives in Delhi fire tragedy West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her deepest condolences to the families of those killed in a massive fire at a factory in Delhi and said she was saddened by the tragic incident. The Chief Minister wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the fire incident. “Saddened to hear about the devastating fire in Delhi. My heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” Banerjee wrote on her Twitter handle. - PTI 11.30 AM In search of missing family members... Taj Ahmad, 40, who came looking for his brother-in-law and father-in-law at LNJP Hospital in Delhi after the fire accident said that he has been at the hospital for the past one and a half hours, but doesn't know whether they are alive. Taj Ahmad, who is looking for his brother-in-law and father-in-law, feared to be victims of the fire Taj Ahmad, who is looking for his brother-in-law and father-in-law, feared to be victims of the fire | Photo Credit: Nikhil M Babu "I told them (hospital authorities) to at least show me the dead bodies so that I can identify them. But they didn't show me. I don't know whether they're at this hospital or some other hospital or whether they are alive," Mr. Ahmad broke down as he said. "They are giving no details. At least give us list of the dead." Mr. Ahmad, who lives in Delhi, said that he got a phone call from his village in Bihar on Sunday morning about the fire incident. His relatives, Jasimuddhin, 56, and Faisal Khan, 27, have been working at the factory for about 10 years. "The owner had talked to our relatives in the morning and said that things are fine, but now his phone is switched off and my both relatives' phones are also switched off. I don't know whether they're alive," Mr. Ahmad told The Hindu. - Nikhil M Babu reports from Delhi 11.20 AM Home Minister Amit Shah condoles loss of lives in fire tragedy Union Home Minister Amit Shah condoled the loss of lives in a massive fire incident and directed officials concerned to provide immediate assistance to those affected. In a tweet, Shah said, “Tragic loss of precious lives in the fire accident in New Delhi. My deepest condolences with families of those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the early recovery of the injured“. “Have instructed concerned authorities to provide all possible assistance on urgent basis,” he said. - PTI 11.20 AM Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced ₹10 lakh compensation for the kith and kin of the deceased, and ₹1 lakh for the injured, apart from free treatment. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal meets people who were injured in the fire accident at LNJP Hospital Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal meets people who were injured in the fire accident at LNJP Hospital | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Mr. Kejriwal, who arrived at the site of the fire, also ordered a Magisterial Enquiry into the incident. 11.10 AM Sonia Gandhi asks party workers to assist authorities wrt Delhi fire rescue Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed deep shock and dismay at the horrendous fire accident and loss of innocent lives in a factory in Anaj Mandi area, Delhi. Expressing her deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of over four dozen deceased in the tragic accident, Mrs. Gandhi hoped that maximum lives will be saved and those injured are treated expeditiously. She urged upon the authorities of central and State governments to provide every assistance to victims and their families. She has also asked Congress leaders and workers to assist the authorities in every manner possible. - Sandeep Saxena from Delhi 11 AM Delhi govt orders probe, seeks report in seven days The Delhi government ordered a probe into the fire incident in Anaj Mandi area here and sought a detailed report within seven days. Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot directed district magistrate (central) to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within seven days. - PTI 10.50 AM Action to be taken against guilty: Imran Hussain The Delhi government will conduct a probe and take action against those responsible for the fire incident in north Delhi. Glimpses from the Anaj Mandi area at Rani Jhansi Road in Delhi where a huge fire broke out on Sunday Glimpses from the Anaj Mandi area at Rani Jhansi Road in Delhi where a huge fire broke out on Sunday | Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain said that an investigation will be conducted into the incident. “It is a tragic incident. Investigation will be conducted and action will be taken against whoever is responsible for it...,” Mr. Hussain tweeted. - PTI 10.40 AM Rahul Gandhi offers condolences to bereaved families Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those killed and said he was saddened by the tragic incident. Saddened at the news that a massive fire in the Anaj Mandi area of Delhi has claimed many lives and left several people injured, Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. “I extend my deepest condolences to the families of those killed and wish for the speedy recovery of those injured,” he said. - PTI 10.30 AM Fire incident extremely horrific: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the incident extremely horrific and said that authorities are providing all possible assistance. "The fire in Delhi’s Anaj Mandi on Rani Jhansi Road is extremely horrific. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. Wishing the injured a quick recovery. Authorities are providing all possible assistance at the site of the tragedy," he wrote on Twitter.