6 killed in B'lore factory fire

Bangalore (IANS): Six people were burnt to death on Monday in a massive fire that gutted a seat-making and furniture factory in the Magadi industrial area on the city's outskirts, police said. "The victims were said to be sleeping when the fire occurred in the factory, which had inflammable material such as foam, thermocol, wooden panels and ready-made chairs," Ramangara's Superintendent of Police Anupam Agarwal said. Though police registered a complaint of criminal negligence against the officials of the factory - SK Seating Systems Ltd - which makes foam seats for auditoriums and cinema theatres, no arrest has been made so far. "We are waiting for the factory owner to report to the Magadi police station to find out how many people were present in the factory at the time of accident, as one more person is reportedly missing. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained," Agarwal said. Preliminary investigation and interrogation of the factory's employees revealed that the victims were in the factory since Sunday to complete a huge order for seats to a Dubai firm and stayed back in the premises as they worked through the night.