In two separate acts of swift bravery over the weekend, personnel from the Delhi Police averted potential major tragedies by responding to dangerous fire incidents in the national capital. Their timely intervention saved numerous lives, including those of children and senior citizens.
Constable's Quick Thinking Saves Apartment Building
The first incident occurred on Friday night around 9:39 PM in the Mohan Garden area of west Delhi. Police received a call about a suspected cylinder blast in a four-storey residential building. Upon alerting the station house officer, a police team and a fire tender were immediately dispatched to the location.
Beat officer Constable Anil reached the building and entered a third-floor flat. Inside the kitchen, he discovered an LPG cylinder fully engulfed in flames. With approximately 16 families, including children and elderly residents, inside the building, the situation was critical. The kitchen's limited space and flammable plywood décor heightened the risk of a massive explosion.
"I had to act quickly and cautiously, analysing the situation," Constable Anil later recounted. His first step was to evacuate the family from the affected apartment. He then made the daring decision to drag the burning cylinder out into the corridor to minimise the danger to the entire structure. Using a cloth, he managed to douse the flames. A video from the scene captured the constable pulling the fiery cylinder through thick smoke as terrified residents watched from a safe distance.
Traffic Cop Rescues Driver from Blazing Car
In a separate display of courage on Sunday evening around 5:50 PM, a traffic police officer rescued a driver trapped inside a burning vehicle. The incident took place at the Timarpur circle in north Delhi, near the Wazirabad flyover.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Pradeep was on duty regulating traffic when he noticed a compact hatchback completely consumed by flames. The driver was unable to escape the inferno. Visuals from the incident showed the car ablaze on the road, emitting thick black smoke into the air as other vehicles continued to pass by.
Without hesitation, ASI Pradeep, assisted by other officers, rushed to the scene. They pulled the trapped driver to safety and even managed to retrieve some of the driver's belongings from the vehicle. To fully extinguish the fire, an MCD water tanker was later arranged and brought to the spot.
A Testament to Police Vigilance and Courage
These back-to-back incidents highlight the unpredictable dangers Delhi Police personnel face and their readiness to protect citizens beyond their regular duties. In both cases, the officers assessed extreme risks—a potential building explosion and a car fire—and placed their own safety secondary to saving lives.
The Delhi Police have commended the actions of both Constable Anil and ASI Pradeep. Their heroism prevented what could have been severe loss of life and property, offering a powerful reminder of the critical role first responders play in urban public safety. The incidents also underscore the ever-present fire hazards in densely populated residential areas and on busy city roads.
