New Delhi: As many as 43 people were killed when a fire broke out at a luggage manufacturing factory in Anaj Mandi on Rani Jhansi Road, a crowded area in North Delhi this morning. Most of the people who died were labourers who were sleeping at the factory when the fire broke out at 5 am.

Thirty fire trucks have been pressed into service and have taken the situation under control. The fire is suspected to have started at the workshop of the bag manufacturing factory which was operating in an area, whose narrow and congested lanes are lined with many small manufacturing and storage units.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, who also rushed to the spot, are assisting in rescue operations and are currently inside the building to check if anyone is stuck.

Many people trapped inside were rescued and rushed to RML Hospital, LNJP and Hindu Rao Hospital, Fire officials said. Some of the people were brought dead to LNJP Hospital. Doctors at the hospital confirmed smoke inhalation as the primary cause of the death. Some of the bodies were charred, according to reports.