2 killed, 3 injured in fire at scrap storage plot
Two scrap dealers lost their lives, and three others sustained burn injuries after a fire tore through makeshift tin sheds at a scrap storage plot in outer Delhi’s Pitampura village early Tuesday. The blaze, fuelled by cardboard and other combustible material, spread swiftly, trapping some occupants while they slept.
The deceased were identified as Biresh Kumar, 28, and Satish Kumar, 35, both natives of Nalanda district in Bihar. They were taken to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial (BJRM) Hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead. The injured include Biresh’s brother and two others, who are undergoing treatment, police added.
The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received a distress call at around 1.25 am reporting a fire near Vikas Niketan Society. Officials said the fire broke out at a vacant plot where scrap cardboard and cartons were stored under tin sheds that also doubled as living quarters for the workers.
According to the police, the scrap dealers had lit an open fire to ward off the cold during the night. After they fell asleep, the flames are suspected to have spread to the surrounding scrap material.
“The area was filled with highly inflammable items such as cardboard, cartons and plastic waste, which caused the fire to escalate within minutes,” an officer said.
While some of the occupants managed to escape, Biresh and Satish could not make it out in time. Police said intoxication may have slowed their response. One of the injured men, identified as Dinesh, told investigators he tried to rescue the two but was forced to step back because of intense heat and heavy smoke.
Fire officials said the blaze engulfed nearly 1,000 square feet of area. Nine fire tenders and about 45 firefighters were rushed to the spot to control the flames. Several vehicles parked close to the plot were damaged in the fire.
