Noida Factory Fire: Two Firefighters Killed in Wall Collapse During Rescue
Two firefighters were killed and three others injured after a wall and an iron beam collapsed inside a burning electronic chip manufacturing unit in Noida late Monday night, police said on Tuesday.
The incident took place at the ILGIM company in the Ecotech-3 industrial area around 11:30 pm, when a fire broke out at the facility. Upon receiving information, at least six fire brigade vehicles were rushed to the spot, with firefighting teams from Noida and Greater Noida joining the operation.
Crews were engaged in dousing the flames when a structural collapse occurred inside the factory, trapping several personnel. Five firefighters sustained injuries in the collapse and were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital by ambulances.
Two of the injured, identified as Rohit Yadav and Tirathpal Singh, succumbed to their injuries during treatment. The other three — Rajpal Singh, Manish Kumar, and Amit Kumar — are said to be out of danger and are currently undergoing medical care, according to a police spokesperson.
Senior police officers, along with a team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), reached the spot soon after the incident. The area has been cordoned off, and the operation to completely extinguish the fire continued through the night.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established. Police said a thorough investigation is underway, and necessary legal proceedings will follow. Officials from the fire department and district administration are also examining whether all safety norms were followed at the unit.
Industrial fires have been a recurring concern in the National Capital Region, often resulting in casualties among workers and rescue personnel. Ecotech-3, located in the Gautam Buddh Nagar district, houses several manufacturing and electronics units, and is part of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority area.
Local residents and factory workers expressed shock over the deaths, while civic officials promised an inquiry into the structural safety of the building. Fire safety experts point out that in many older factories, load-bearing walls and fire exits are not designed to withstand the heat and pressure of a large blaze, putting rescue teams at risk.
The Noida Fire Department has recorded multiple incidents of building collapses during firefighting in the past year. In several cases, the absence of proper ventilation and the use of combustible materials in construction have been cited as contributing factors.
The bodies of the deceased firefighters have been sent for post-mortem, and ex-gratia compensation is expected to be announced by the district administration. The families of the victims have been informed, and both are reported to be residents of Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, the SDRF is continuing its search of the premises to ensure no workers are trapped. The factory was reportedly closed for the day, which averted a larger tragedy. However, the loss of two fire service personnel has cast a pall over the emergency response community, with firefighter unions calling for better protective gear and structural safety assessments before crews enter burning buildings.
Officials have appealed to the public to avoid speculating on the cause of the fire until the investigation report is released. The incident is a reminder of the hazards faced by first responders and the pressing need for stringent enforcement of fire safety standards in industrial zones.
