Deadly Fire in Delhi's Palam Area Claims Nine Lives, Including Three Children
A catastrophic fire erupted in a residential-cum-commercial building in southwest Delhi's Palam area on Wednesday morning, resulting in the tragic deaths of nine family members, among them three young children. The inferno, which broke out around 7 am, quickly engulfed the four-storeyed structure, turning it into a death trap for those inside.
Survivors Jump to Escape, Battle for Life in Hospital
In a desperate bid to survive, three residents leaped from the upper floors of the burning building. They are currently fighting for their lives in various hospitals, with injuries ranging from fractures to severe burns. The emergency response was massive, involving 30 fire tenders, 100 firefighters, 11 CATS ambulances, police personnel, and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Initial Probe Points to Short Circuit as Likely Cause
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been sparked by a short circuit on the ground floor. However, authorities have emphasized that a detailed probe involving police, fire department, and government officials is ongoing to determine the exact cause. The building, located in the WZ block of Ram Chowk Market, was owned by 70-year-old businessman Rajender Kashyap, president of the Sadhnagar market association, who was away in Goa for work at the time and returned to find his family members dead.
Building Layout and Fuel for the Fire
The structure housed a cloth and cosmetics showroom named 'Pravesh Moderate' in the basement, ground floor, and first floor, while the family resided on the second and third floors. The presence of large stockpiles of garments and cosmetic items acted as fuel, intensifying the blaze and making rescue operations extremely challenging. As flames consumed the lower floors, the upper levels became inaccessible, trapping residents.
Victims and Eyewitness Accounts
Of the 12 people rescued from the wreckage and rushed to medical facilities, nine were declared dead on arrival or succumbed to injuries later. The victims identified at Manipal Hospital include:
- Lado Devi (70)
- Pravesh (33)
- Kamal (39)
- Ashu (35)
- Himanshi (22)
- Three minor girls: Niharika (15), Ivani (6), and Jessica (3)
At IG Hospital, 28-year-old Deepika was declared dead, with family members suspecting she died of suffocation despite some burns.
Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes. Businessman Yogesh Sharma recounted how his son alerted him to the fire while on his way to college. "Along with other residents, I rushed to the spot. It took nearly 4 to 5 hours to bring the fire under control," he said. Locals reported that residents were sleeping and were alerted by others, with some suggesting a water motor left switched on may have caused a spark, though police have not confirmed this.
Survivors' Stories and Legal Action
Among the survivors, 32-year-old Anil and 2-year-old Mitali are battling for life at IGI Hospital after Anil threw Mitali from the fourth floor and jumped thereafter. Mitali sustained fractures in both legs, while Anil suffered head injuries. Sachin, 29, was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital with 25% burn injuries after jumping to an adjacent house.
A case has been registered under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 106(1) (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The fire was doused by evening, followed by cooling and search operations.
Compensation Announced by Government Authorities
In response to the tragedy, compensation packages have been announced by both the Delhi government and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The PMO stated that Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased, while injured individuals will receive Rs 50,000. The Delhi government announced additional support, including:
- Rs 10 lakh for families of deceased adults
- Rs 5 lakh for families of deceased minors
- Rs 2 lakh for each seriously injured person
This devastating incident underscores critical issues of fire safety and building regulations in urban areas, prompting calls for stricter enforcement to prevent such tragedies in the future.
