New Delhi, 18 October, 2024: A devastating fire broke out in a residential building in the Shahdara area of Delhi on Friday morning, killing two persons. According to reports, the emergency services received a call about the fire at 5:25 AM, prompting the dispatch of six fire tenders to the Bhola Nath Nagar locality to extinguish the flames.
The two victims were identified as 42-year-old Shilpi Gupta and her 16-year-old son, Pranav Gupta. Firefighters recovered their bodies from the apartment, with preliminary investigations indicating they succumbed to suffocation.
Local residents said that the blaze began around 5:05 AM, creating chaos and panic in the neighborhood.
Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing scene as flames rapidly engulfed the building. One resident described the alarming moments, saying, “I was standing on my balcony, performing prayers when I noticed the fire. It sounded like fireworks. I assumed it was a short circuit and immediately called the fire brigade. Unfortunately, fire trucks experienced significant delays due to parked vehicles obstructing their path, which exacerbated the situation.”
Residents claimed it took approximately an hour and a half for fire tenders to reach the scene, a delay that likely allowed the fire to intensify and spread throughout the building, resulting in injuries and fatalities.
Manoj Kumar Shetty, a family member, confirmed the cause of death, stating, “I had stopped the lift and gas pipeline, but it was too late for them.” The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation; however, initial reports suggest an electrical malfunction as a potential source.
In a fortunate turn of events, two children were rescued from the scene and transported to a hospital for medical treatment. The community is now left grappling with the tragic loss, calling for improved fire safety measures in residential areas to prevent such incidents in the future.
