Fire breaks out at RBI building in Delhi, 6 fire tenders rushed

A fire broke out at the Reserve Bank of India’s building on Parliament Street in Delhi on Tuesday, prompting authorities to rush six fire tenders to the spot, an official of the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) said.

A call regarding the blaze — reported to have started in a solar panel installation on the terrace — was received at 1.05 PM, the officer said, adding that further details were awaited.

The incident comes amid a sharp rise in fire-related emergencies in the national capital. According to official data, fire incidents surged by 73 per cent in April compared to March, with 2,663 fire calls recorded last month alone, up from 1,538 in March and 1,096 in February. January had logged 1,396 such calls, taking the total to 6,693 fire-related incidents between January and April.

Officials have linked the spike to rising temperatures and an increase in garbage and dry waste fires, which have shown a steady upward trend in recent months.

Casualties have also been reported, with 32 people losing their lives in fire accidents during the first four months of the year. March recorded the highest number of deaths at 15, followed by six each in January and February, and five in April.

Despite the increase in incidents, DFS personnel have managed to save 837 lives during this period, including 261 rescues in April alone — the highest monthly figure so far this year.