Tragic Fire in Delhi's Rohini: 4 Dead, 3 Injured

New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) A tragic incident unfolded in Delhi's Rohini area as a fire claimed the lives of four individuals and injured three others at a five-storey building containing multiple manufacturing units, police reported on Wednesday.

Sixteen fire tenders were dispatched to the building in Rohini Sector-5 after the fire department was alerted about the blaze at around 7:30 PM on Tuesday. Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg indicated that the fire broke out near Rithala Metro Station.

While the cause of the fire remains undetermined, investigations are ongoing, and search operations are underway to ensure no individuals remain trapped in debris. Police have located four charred bodies thus far.

Initially, the injured parties — Nitin Bansal (31) and Rakesh (30), both with severe burn injuries, and Virender (25), suffering minor burns — were rescued and taken to BSA Hospital. Later, Nitin and Rakesh were transferred to RML Hospital for advanced treatment.

Around 1:15 AM on Wednesday, fire personnel retrieved three charred bodies from the first floor, followed by another discovery later. While the lower floors were under control by 6 AM, efforts continue on the third and top floors due to lingering smoke. Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) Rajesh Kumar confirmed that the cooling process is ongoing.

Sources from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) revealed the building lacked a fire safety certificate and a proper evacuation route. Firefighters resorted to deploying a JCB machine to breach the wall and initiate firefighting operations. "Initially, we discovered chemical storage on the ground floor for printing purposes," one firefighter mentioned.

According to the police, a PCR call about the fire was received at Budh Vihar Police Station at 7:29 PM Tuesday, prompting an immediate response. The building, Rana Complex at Gate No. 2, housed several manufacturing units where numerous individuals were reportedly trapped.

Investigations revealed that the ground and first floors were utilized by Nitin Bansal for manufacturing readymade and plastic bags, the second floor was rented to Anand for fabric work, while the third and top floor served as storage for Rakesh Arora's disposable article business.

Local resident Inder Sharma recounted receiving calls from neighbors prompting him to move his car from the site. He observed locals rushing to aid those in need. "Many residents leaped from the first and second floors, sustaining injuries," Sharma claimed. He noted firefighters drilled a wall as part of their rescue efforts with locals, police, and fire services collaborating to save lives.

Another witness stated that the fire erupted on the ground floor, rapidly spreading due to strong winds. "After the DFS cooling operation, a thorough investigation by police and forensic experts will follow," a police officer confirmed.

Additionally, resident Satbir Chauhan shared an account of individuals jumping from the second floor at the urging of neighbors who noticed the fire. Chauhan assisted in getting three individuals to hospital facilities. He emphasized, "This tragedy underscores the essential nature of maintaining fire safety equipment in such places."

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)