Massive Fire In Delhi’s Tughlakabad Leaves 3 Dead, 8 Injured; Rescue Operations Underway

New Delhi: Three people died after a massive fire broke out in a building in Delhi's Tughlakabad area in the early hours of Friday, police said.

Six people have been rescued so far by the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) staff and were shifted to a nearby hospital with the help of Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS), officials said.

According to the fire department, at least eight injured people were evacuated earlier and shifted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre for treatment

The blaze erupted at a building located in Gali No. 1, near Naya Tara Apartment on Madhyam Marg, under the jurisdiction of Okhla Fire Station-1 (OKH-1).

DFS's Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO) Yashwant Singh Meena informed that the building comprises a ground floor and five upper floors and is situated in a narrow street, posing challenges for rescue and firefighting operations.

According to the fire department, multiple emergency calls reporting a building fire and people trapped inside were received between 2:35 am and 2:37 am.

Five individuals were transported to hospitals. Two females and one male to AIIMS Trauma Center, and five females to Safdarjung Hospital. In Safdarjung, two females died, and three are being treated. At AIIMS, one male died, and two females are under treatment.

In response, the department dispatched three water tenders, two water bowsers, one breathing support unit, and one Quick Response Vehicle. An additional water tender/light fire unit was later rushed to the spot following several distress calls.

Along with ADO Meena, the firefighting and rescue operation was led by Station Training Officer (STO) Mukul Bhardwaj, Station Officer (SO) Samarth Lal and Station Officer (SO) Raj Kumar.

Preliminary information from the fire department indicated that the fire originated in vehicles parked inside the house. Firefighters launched rescue operations after reports that several occupants were trapped inside the building.

At 3:45 am, ADO Meena informed that the fire had been brought under control. At 4:00 am, the DFS issued a stop message, indicating that firefighting operations had been completed. Rescue efforts continued even after the fire was contained.

A local resident describes the late-night fire incident in the capital, where the neighborhood united to rescue trapped individuals. Upon realizing the fire, residents rushed to help as vehicles exploded. They extinguished flames with water and used sarees to help people escape, cutting through safety grilles to rescue others. Eight individuals were injured, and one man named Pankaj, living on the fourth floor, tragically lost his life. The fire broke out at 2:00 AM, with a call made shortly after.

Firefighters also rescued one more person from the building during the final phase of the operation, taking the total number of people rescued by DFS personnel to six.

Further details are awaited. (With Agency Inputs)