Hazardous chemicals, closed exits and use of poor construction material — the plastic factory in Narela where a major fire broke out on Wednesday evening, had major safety issues, fire officials said...Rescuers present at the site said that the fire, caused by a possible short-circuit, could have been controlled in 20 minutes. The operation, however, took over 24 hours only because safety measures were not followed in the building...The factory, which made plastic crockery, was sold to the owners in January this year and the old building was extended just two months ago...This factory has industrial units on all three sides, which restricted access to the building and increased the chances of the fire spreading...The building was reconstructed and expanded. We had clearances from fire and the police when we owned it. I don’t know how the new owners are operating it,” said Hitesh Mehandiratta, the previous owner of the building.