The police said the fire, which broke out at 0930 hours in a room on the third floor of the factory, was doused by five fire tenders after a 75-minute firefight.

The injured were admitted to the R G Kar hospital in the city.

State Home (Police) Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya has ordered the immediate arrest of the owners of the factory and the building and an enquiry into the cause of the mishap.

Fire Services Minister Pratim Chatterjee and Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya later visited the spot.

Tension prevailed in the area as a mob, including employees of the company, staged a demonstration at the spot protesting against the alleged negligence on the part of the factory owner which led to the fire.