Delhi: Six injured in fire incident

A fire broke out early Monday morning at a restaurant in INA Market, South Delhi, injuring six people and spreading to two nearby fast food outlets, officials said.

According to fire department officials, a call was received at 3:18 a.m. regarding a blaze at Kerala Restaurant, located at shop number 211 near Gate Number 2 of the INA Metro Station. Seven fire engines were dispatched to tackle the flames.

The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) managed to extinguish the fire after about two hours, according to an official.

Several restaurant employees sleeping inside were injured as the fire also consumed two nearby Chinese fast food outlets in shops 213 and 214, the official added.

The police stated they received a PCR call about the fire approximately 40 minutes later, at 3:57 a.m.

“Officers from the Kotla Mubarakpur Police Station arrived at the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered that a fire had started in the restaurant, resulting in injuries to six individuals who were promptly taken to hospitals,” a senior police officer said.

The police reported that restaurant workers sleeping inside were awakened by smoke and the smell of burning. Upon noticing the fire, they contacted their owner, Sunil (46), who came to the scene and was among those injured.

Police reported that Sunil suffered 70% burn injuries, while Ashki Nepali (26) sustained 10% burns. Arun (18) suffered 35% burns, Shiva (26) sustained 40% burns, Shiv Kumar (24) had 25% burns, and Girish (42) suffered 40% burns.

“The injured were taken to Safdarjung and AIIMS Hospitals. A short circuit is suspected to have caused the fire, and further investigation is underway,” police officials said.