A devastating fire in a grocery shop in Delhi's Tikri Kalam area claimed the lives of a young couple on Friday night. The victims, identified as Vineet (31) and his wife Renu (29), were found dead after being rescued from the smoke-filled premises.
Tragic Discovery and Rescue Attempt
Authorities received an emergency PCR call late Friday reporting visible smoke and flames emanating from the shop. Upon arrival, a police team discovered the shop's shutter partially closed and the interior completely engulfed in thick, toxic smoke. In a desperate rescue effort, officers used a wooden log to forcibly open the shutter and extract the couple. They were rushed to Oscar Hospital in Bahadurgarh, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.
How the Fatal Incident Unfolded
Preliminary investigations point to a short circuit near the shop's counter as the likely cause of the fire. A senior police officer explained that the electrical fault quickly ignited plastic packets stored nearby. "As the fire spread and smoke filled the confined space, an electric current passing through the metal shutter prevented the couple from exiting safely," the officer stated.
The investigation reveals a harrowing final struggle. In a bid to escape the inferno, Vineet and Renu attempted to pull down the shop's shutter but became tragically trapped in the process. This led to severe suffocation from the intense smoke, ultimately causing their deaths. The local crime team and fire brigade officials conducted a thorough inspection of the site to determine the exact sequence of events.
Victims' Background and Aftermath
The deceased couple, who ran the grocery shop, were originally natives of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Their sudden demise has sent shockwaves through the local community. The incident highlights the critical dangers posed by electrical faults in densely packed urban commercial spaces, especially those containing flammable materials. The police are continuing their inquiry into the tragic Delhi fire incident.
