Wajid Ali, who hails from Bihar, sank to the floor in front of the mortuary after seeing the body of his young cousin and learning that his two brothers are untraceable after the blaze in north Delhi’s Anaj Mandi on Sunday that has killed over 40 people.

Ali, in his twenties, said he works in a bag-making unit in the same area. He woke up to the tragic news and rushed from one hospital to another looking for his family members, only to find his cousin’s body at the Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital (LHMC).

Ten victims were brought to the hospital in central Delhi, nine of them dead and one survivor who is admitted in the ICU. As many as 34 people were brought dead at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP), where 15 injured were admitted. Most of the victims were labourers, doctors said.

The factory site at Rani Jhansi Road where the fire broke out on Sunday. Picture by Prem Singh

At LHMC Hospital, fellow villagers and acquaintances were frantically looking for 14-year-old Mohammed Sahmat and 13-year-old Mohamed Mahbub, who were present at the factory during the fire.

Mohammed Arman, who works at a furniture factory in Mayapuri, was showing hospital authorities the picture of Mahbub and Sahmat. He later learnt Mahbub was among those brought dead to the hospital.

Mahbub’s uncle Mohammed Hakim, a rickshawpuller, was left in despair as he saw the body of his nephew with burn injuries in the mortuary.

“If Allah is merciful, we will find Sahmat,” Arman said, still nursing hopes of finding the teenager alive.

Wails of inconsolable family members rent the air in the morgue. Wajid Ali nearly fainted after emerging from the room.

“My cousin Mohammed Atamul, who is about 18 years old… I saw his body. And, my two brothers Sajid, 23, and Wazir, 17, are untraceable,” a despondent Wajid said as his family members tried to comfort him.