A devastating fire in the early hours of Tuesday claimed the lives of a family of three residing in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) staff quarters in north Delhi's Majlis Park area. The victims were identified as Ajay Vimal (44), his wife Neelam (43), and their nine-year-old daughter Janvi.
Neighbours Alerted by Shattering Glass
The tragedy unfolded around 2:30 am when neighbours were jolted awake by the sound of breaking glass. Upon looking out, they saw thick smoke emanating from the fifth-floor flat of the Vimal family. They rushed upstairs but found the main door locked from inside, preventing entry. Immediately, they alerted the fire brigade and the police.
Five fire engines and 25 firefighters were dispatched to the scene after a call was logged at the Adarsh Nagar police station at 2:39 am. The responders faced a challenging entry, having to cut through an iron door, a safety net, and a wooden door to gain access to the completely charred interior of the one-bedroom apartment.
Suspected Cause: Faulty Room Heater
Preliminary investigations point towards a tragic accident. Police officials stated that the bodies were found in sleeping positions with no signs of struggle, leading them to believe the family succumbed to toxic smoke in their sleep. The primary suspicion is a room heater or blower that may have emitted poisonous fumes before catching fire and exploding.
The intensity of the blaze melted several electrical appliances in the room, including an air conditioner, television, and fan, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact ignition source instantly. Notably, the fire was contained within the locked bedroom and did not spread to other parts of the flat. Officials confirmed that the in-house firefighting system of the residential society was operational at the time.
A Family Remembered with Love
Ajay Vimal, an assistant section engineer posted at Barakhamba metro station, had been with the DMRC since 2006 and had lived in the Majlis Park quarters since 2016. His young daughter, Janvi, was a Class 4 student at Queen Mary's School. The family, originally from Ujjain with roots in Uttar Pradesh, was described by grieving relatives as loving and without disputes.
The scene outside the mortuary was one of profound grief. Ajay's elder brother, Manoj, a UP Police inspector posted in Aligarh, stood consoling his sister Usha. Usha, who lives in Noida, recounted meeting the family just days before the tragedy. "They had called us for dinner at their home on Sunday. We stayed there until midnight and even wished each other a Happy New Year," she said, overwhelmed with sorrow.
The police have registered an FIR, and a joint investigation with the fire department is underway to determine the precise sequence of events. The blaze was finally extinguished by 3:30 am, leaving behind a community in shock and a family shattered by an unimaginable loss.
