Firefighter killed after explosion brings down Battery Factory in Delhi

New Delhi: A firefighter was killed at a battery factory in west Delhi's Peera Garhi after it caught fire and the structure collapsed following an explosion, officials said. Two firefighters and a worker have been rescued. They suffered minor injuries, officials said. The police said 14 others are injured. Thirty-five fire engines came to the site. A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also helped in the rescue operation. The fire department received a call for help at 4:30 am, officials said, adding they initially sent seven fire engines to the factory. At 9 am, an explosion suspected to be an overheated battery ripped through the rear of the building, bringing down the structure. In visuals, black smoke was seen billowing out from the factory. The rescuers said they advanced with extreme caution as the smoke from the batteries was toxic. They said they have removed inflammable material from the building. The firefighter who died in the fire was identified as Amit Balyan, 27. He was posted in the Kirti Nagar branch of the Department of Delhi Fire Services. His body was recovered under the building's debris 5 to 6 hours into the firefighting operation. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted his condolences. Source: NDTV