Naseem said that some people had been drinking liquor in the transport shop since morning and that the fire may have been caused by a carelessly thrown matchstick or a smouldering beedi. ``They are always drinking there and the company worker who himself got killed has no clue about the contents of the crates or drums that arrive or leave his office,'' he said.

Naseem who had lost his eldest son in a bus accident a few years ago had been at LNJP hospital for the past three days trying to understand the decipher the incoherent words of his son.

Naseem had also been watching over another patient Kishan Bahadur (bed number 3) as the latter has no attendants. Bahadur, a rickshaw puller, has suffered 90 per cent burns.

Meanwhile relatives of Rizwan Ali, who is also in a serious condition with 85 per cent burns, continued their sleepless vigil outside the burns ward at LNJP. His relatives who have come from Lakheempur were not aware of any relief announced for them and said no one has offered any assistance to them so far.

Loss Prevention Association of India Ltd, a private organisation, has suggested some precautions to be taken for safe storage of chemicals. These are: Maintain a distance of 2 m between two different chemicals, ensure that containers have labels for identification of contents, never leave the containers open, never smell or taste chemicals for identifying them, avoid all sources of ignition in storage areas, protect the premises with foam, dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide extinguishers and a hydrant post.