Firefighters encountered numerous challenges as they battled a blaze in an east Delhi building on Tuesday, resulting in the tragic death of a 40-year-old woman named Anita. The five-storey building in Shakarpur witnessed a major fire, prompting a swift response from the Delhi Fire Service, which successfully rescued 25 individuals.
Upon receiving the distress call around 1.05 am, three initial fire vehicles were dispatched to the scene. Given the severity of the fire, an additional five fire engines were deployed, and eventually, more than 20 fire engines rushed to combat the flames that had consumed the entire left side of the building, according to Delhi Fire Service chief Atul Garg.
One significant challenge faced by the firefighters was the absence of a nearby water source, forcing them to contend with difficulties in refilling the fire vehicles. Moreover, the presence of onlookers added to the complexity of the rescue operation, as the teams had to repeatedly request people to create space, allowing for the evacuation of individuals and their prompt transfer to nearby hospitals.
Chief Garg highlighted additional challenges, including low-hanging electricity wires, heightened electricity usage due to the Diwali festival, and the narrow streets surrounding the building. While traffic was not a hindrance during the late-night incident, Garg emphasized the need for spectators to exercise caution during emergencies, emphasizing the potential dangers posed by exploding LPG cylinders and the rapid spread of fire in densely populated areas.
An initial inquiry into the incident revealed that a short circuit in the parking area on the ground floor triggered the fire. The flames originated in the building’s parking area in the early hours of Tuesday, swiftly engulfing the entire structure. Panic ensued, leading approximately five individuals to jump from balconies in a desperate bid to save their lives. Naresh Nagar, a man who jumped from the first floor, sustained a leg fracture in the process.
Law enforcement promptly registered an FIR related to the incident and initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic fire in east Delhi’s Shakarpur.
(With PTI inputs)
