Mixed-use buildings turn Delhi homes into fire hazards

Mixed-use residential buildings are spread across Delhi, cutting across neighbourhoods and income groups. Unless they are Delhi Development Authority (DDA)-planned complexes, such structures are common across the city.

These buildings—where ground floors and basements operate as commercial hubs while upper storeys house families—have created a persistent and growing fire safety crisis. While the Delhi Master Plan allows certain commercial activities in residential areas, many of these structures bypass essential safety protocols, effectively turning homes into high-risk zones.

In dense neighbourhoods, it is common to find four-to-five-storey buildings where the lower levels are packed with flammable inventory such as textiles, cosmetics, or electronics. This creates a vertical “tinderbox” effect; a blaze starting in a basement or shop floor can rapidly consume oxygen and fill the only available exit—usually a single narrow internal staircase—with suffocating toxic smoke.

The risks are often compounded by illegal practices, such as using residential basements for bulk warehousing or small-scale manufacturing. These spaces frequently lack adequate ventilation and secondary emergency exits, which are mandated by the National Building Code but rarely enforced in older colonies and unauthorised settlements.

Palam fire exposes deadly risks

A tragic manifestation of these hazards occurred on March 18, 2026, in Southwest Delhi’s Palam area. A fire, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit in a ground-floor electrical board, ripped through a building housing a cloth and cosmetic showroom.

The blaze led to the deaths of nine members of a family due to asphyxiation, as smoke from the commercial goods trapped them on the upper floors.

In response, Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood directed third-party experts to map and audit every establishment in the city for fire safety compliance. The move aims to identify gaps in safety measures and ensure adherence to prescribed norms across commercial units operating in mixed-use areas.

Sood said the government would no longer allow “blind spots” in safety oversight, asserting that every worker and every family deserves to feel safe regardless of their location.

“Every worker and every family deserves to feel safe, no matter where they are,” he said. “We are ending gaps in enforcement and ensuring that safety rules apply everywhere.”

He added that the audit would help identify such blind spots. “We are not waiting for accidents to happen. We are working to stop them before they start,” he said.

Rising incidents, persistent gaps

According to Delhi Fire Services (DFS) data, the city remains under significant pressure, responding to an average of 36 fire calls per day. The 2,716 calls received between January 1 and March 15 this year represent a slight dip from the same period in 2025, but casualties remain a major concern.

So far in 2026, 13 deaths and 111 injuries have been recorded.

Senior fire officers said more than 80% of these incidents are linked to electrical faults. The increasing load on ageing wiring systems, coupled with poor maintenance and the presence of combustible materials such as furniture and fabrics, allows fires to spread rapidly. Mixed-use buildings are particularly vulnerable, as the storage of flammable cosmetics and clothing can intensify a fire within minutes.

Authorities said the upcoming audit will create a detailed database of establishments to improve enforcement. The focus has shifted towards prevention rather than response, with the government warning that strict action will follow to ensure compliance.

Questions over firefighting preparedness

The failure of a hydraulic crane during a firefighting operation at a residential property in Palam has raised fresh concerns over the preparedness of the Delhi Fire Services.

Moments after rescuing an individual, the hydraulic fire engine suffered a technical fault, reportedly caused by low-hanging electric cables that interfered with its sensors and halted the operation. The incident has triggered concerns about the maintenance of critical life-saving equipment.

The Delhi Government has warned of severe disciplinary action against any negligent DFS officers.

A senior government official said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered a magisterial enquiry into the tragedy. The investigation will focus on response times and the measures taken, with an assurance that any lapses will invite strict penalties.

Meanwhile, Sood launched a city-wide fire safety mission, declaring an end to the “era of blind spots” in the city.

Fire officials said delayed reporting of emergencies remains a recurring issue. By the time crews arrived at the Palam site, the building was already heavily engulfed in smoke.

“These incidents keep happening since residential buildings often feature only a single staircase; fires frequently originate on the ground floor, effectively trapping the only available exit,” a senior fire official said.

Unregulated commercialisation was also cited as a major contributing factor.

Equipment shortages add to challenge

The limited availability of fire safety equipment continues to be a concern. Of the approximately 11 rescue-specific hydraulic units in the fleet, only nine are currently operational.

There are only two functional high-reach Bronto fire engines—specialised vehicles equipped with long, extendable hydraulic platforms. Both have a reach of 42 metres, while a 70-metre unit remains out of service along with another malfunctioning vehicle.

Bronto engines are used for rescues and firefighting in high-rise buildings, allowing firefighters to reach significant heights. They are equipped with powerful water monitors to tackle flames from above. However, officials said these platforms require a minimum vertical clearance of five metres from the road to operate safely—a condition rarely met in Delhi’s congested streets due to overhead cables and encroachments.

According to officials, Chief Minister Gupta has instructed the District Magistrate of South West Delhi to fast-track the investigation and submit a report within three to four days, shorter than the usual timeframe.