Fires in Delhi, Indore claim 17 lives, including 5 minors
At least 17 people, including five children, were killed in separate fire incidents in Delhi and Indore on Wednesday, while major blazes in Ahmedabad and Chandigarh gutted dozens of shops, triggering panic and large-scale firefighting operations.In Delhi, nine members of a family died after a fire tore through a multi-storey residential-cum-commercial building in the Palam area of southwest Delhi.
The blaze broke out around 7.04 am in a four-storey building at Ram Chowk Market near Palam Metro station, rapidly engulfing the structure and trapping residents. Around 30 fire tenders were deployed as firefighters battled flames in the congested locality. Rescue teams from police, NDRF, BSES, and other agencies joined the operation.
Amit Goel, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest), said several people were trapped as the fire spread quickly. “The firefighting operation continued for hours. We are consistently monitoring the situation. Our police personnel also assisted the firefighters,” he said.Officials said flammable materials stored in lower-floor shops, including clothing and cosmetics, accelerated the blaze.
Among the dead were multiple members of a single family, including three children and a 70-year-old woman. Eight victims were declared dead at Manipal Hospital, while one was brought dead to IGI Hospital. At least 10 people were rescued, many unconscious due to smoke inhalation.Three injured survivors, including a two-year-old girl, are undergoing treatment at city hospitals.
NDRF Deputy Inspector Vicky Ranga said the rescue was challenging due to structural damage. “We reached within 10 minutes. The building was damaged from the inside. Conducting a rescue in such conditions is a big challenge,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of `2 lakh for the families of the deceased and `50,000 for the injured. “The fire incident in Palam is saddening. My condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Delhi Lt Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, chairing his first Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), ordered a comprehensive fire safety audit across the city, while Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced a magisterial inquiry and compensation of `10 lakh for families of adult victims and `5 lakh for minors.
Authorities said the cause of the fire is under investigation.In Indore, eight members of a family were killed after a fire broke out at a three-storey house following an explosion at an electric vehicle charging point outside the building.
Police said a car being charged caught fire after the explosion, and flames quickly spread to the house in Brajeshwari Annex Colony. Investigators found 10-11 LPG cylinders on the premises, some of which exploded and intensified the blaze that began around 4 a.m.The Madhya Pradesh Government has ordered a detailed probe and will frame a standard operating procedure for EV charging safety. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav termed the incident “extremely heartbreaking”.
Separately, a fire in a wholesale cloth market in Ahmedabad’s Kalupur area destroyed over 25 shops, though no casualties were reported.In Chandigarh, a blaze in a Sector 22 shop spread to adjoining establishments in one of the city’s busiest commercial areas. More than 15 fire tenders were deployed, with additional support called in from Mohali. No casualties have been reported so far.
Officials said the incidents highlight persistent fire safety gaps, particularly in densely populated areas and mixed-use buildings, as authorities step up investigations into the causes.
