Nine hospitalised after midnight fire in Shahdara

Nine people, including women and a 12-year-old girl, were hospitalised after a fire broke out in a four-storey residential building in east Delhi’s Shahdara area early Sunday morning. Officials said the victims suffered breathing problems due to heavy smoke inside the building and were rescued by fire and police personnel.

According to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), the fire was reported at around 12.03 am from a residential building located at D-45, Mansarover Park. Three fire tenders and a water bowser were immediately rushed to the spot after the emergency call was received.

Officials said the fire had started in domestic items kept in the parking area on the ground floor of the building. Thick smoke quickly spread through the structure, trapping several residents on different floors.

DFS and police teams carried out a rescue operation and evacuated nine people from the building. All of them were taken to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital after complaining of breathing difficulties caused by smoke inhalation.

The injured were identified as Vanshika (20), Tanishka Soni (19), Durgesh (49), Yogesh Verma (50), Raj Rani (65), Arun Garg (48), Ananya (12), Renu Garg (19) and Prateek Garg (19).

A senior Delhi Fire Services official said the blaze remained confined to the parking area and was later brought under control before it could spread to the upper floors.

Police said preliminary investigation suggested that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in a motor installed in the parking area.

“The fire reportedly started due to a short circuit in a motor and remained limited to the parking space of the building. Police and fire teams responded quickly and safely rescued all trapped residents,” a police statement said.

Officials said no deaths or burn injuries were reported in the incident. All those admitted to the hospital were treated for smoke inhalation and later discharged.

The incident triggered panic in the locality during the night as residents gathered outside the building while rescue operations were underway. Videos showing fire personnel rescuing people from the smoke-filled building later surfaced on social media platforms.

Officials said the narrow lanes in the area posed initial difficulties for fire tenders reaching the spot, but the teams managed to control the situation in time and prevent a major tragedy.

Police said further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire and whether there were any electrical safety lapses inside the building.

Fire incidents linked to electrical short circuits continue to remain a concern in several residential areas of the Capital, especially during the summer season when electricity usage increases sharply.

Authorities have repeatedly advised residents to ensure proper maintenance of electrical wiring, motors and power equipment to avoid such incidents. Fire officials also urged people living in multi-storey buildings to keep emergency exits clear and avoid storing combustible material in parking areas or staircases.

Officials said timely intervention by the fire department and local police helped prevent casualties in Sunday’s incident.