In one of the most serious industrial accidents in Delhi in recent years, six workers died from an explosion and fire in a fabric-washing factory within the Okhla Industrial Estate on 16 September.

Twelve workers were inside the factory at the time.The accident took place at Virgo Washing Co., which operated a rented premises at 212, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase III. The factory, owned by a Rathi Varadarajan, washes garments exclusively for a larger company, Kashika Enter¬prises, jointly owned by Rathi and her mother, Usha Varadarajan. The parent company Kashika (268 Sant Nagar, East of Kailash) is a medium-sized, profitable company with around two hundred workers. It makes quilt covers, pillowcases, bedsheets and curtain material.