A major fire broke out in a slum cluster in Sector 65 on Saturday, destroying around 65 shanties, a fire official reported.
Initial investigations indicate that the blaze was caused by a cooking gas leakage.
According to police, the fire erupted around 10 am in the Sector 65 area. Five fire engines were quickly deployed to the scene, managing to bring the blaze under control, although the damage to the shanties was extensive.
Fortunately, no casualties or burn injuries were reported.
Upon receiving information about the incident, DCP South Siddhant Jain and his team promptly arrived at the scene and evacuated many residents, including small children, from the affected area.
A senior police officer revealed that the shanties were constructed by three individuals—Ombir, Shyambir, and Sagar, residents of Ramgarh village. These were later handed over to contractor Hamid, a native of West Bengal, who rented them out to migrants for Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 per month.
“Investigations have uncovered that the entire construction was illegal and lacked adherence to safety norms. The incident occurred due to the negligence of these individuals, and an FIR has been filed against the four involved under relevant sections of the IPC at the Sector 65 police station,” stated DCP Jain.
This incident comes just two weeks after a similar fire in Sector 54 gutted 300 huts.
(With PTI inputs)