Three charred, 10 hurt in Shahdara fire

Three persons were charred to death and 10 others injured after a major fire broke out in a house in northeast Delhi’s Shahdara area

“We received a fire call at 5.06 am in the parking area of a house. The fire spread through the four-storeyed building, said a senior Delhi fire official. Five fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the fire was brought under control by 6:30 am, the official said.

The local residents said the number of casualties could be more than five. Ten others were also injured in the incident, sources said. Two people jumped from the first floor of the building and suffered fractures. The deceased were yet to be identified. The injured were undergoing treatment at G.T.B. Hospital.

Sources said that prima facie it seems that fire broke out due to short-circuit. At least 12 e-rickshaws parked near the building have been gutted, sources said. All of them belonged to the owner of the building.

The deceased were identified as Sanjay, 36, Rajni, 30, and her daughter Kareena, 10, while a dozen others who sustained burn injuries were admitted to GTB Hospital for treatment, said A.K. Singla, DCP (northeast).

Delhi labour minister Gopal Rai visited the injured persons at G.T.B. hospital and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the family members of the 10 injured persons.

The police said that over two dozen persons were sleeping in the eight flats of the building when the fire broke out. A few of them managed to escape while others were trapped inside as the fire had started from its parking. The deceased were identified as Sanjay, 36, Rajni, 30, and her daughter

Neighbours used staircase made of bamboo sticks to save lives of people caught in the blaze. Fire tenders reached around 5.30 am, an hour after neighbours informed the fire department, sources said. A case of causing death due to negligence has been registered at Shahdara police station, the DCP said.