Bawana fire: How inhuman working conditions saved the lives of these three women

Inhuman working conditions at the firecracker factory in northwest Delhi’s Bawana probably saved the lives of three women – two of whom had joined on the same day of the fire that killed 17 people.

As per an Indian Express report, the three women, identified as Meena, Chanchal and Rekha left work an hour early, protesting the ‘hazardous’ working conditions. They had an argument with their supervisor, citing difficulties in breathing because of the gunpowder in the air.

In addition, the women said that they were employed without providing any documents such as identity proof. They also alleged that they were also unaware of the nature of the job, or that it included handling explosives.

DNA had even learnt that the shutters of the factory were down before the fire broke out. There was no escape route as the blaze ripped through the two-storeyed structure in North Delhi’s Bawana, multiple sources and workers said on Sunday. Only a small door, part of the main gate, was open, but it was too small to be of any help. “The lockdown was usual, primarily to prevent workers from stealing articles or shirking work,” said a surviving labourer.

Chief Fire Officer GC Mishra also …read more