A devastating fire on Sunday has prompted residents of Vivek Vihar in New Delhi to urgently reassess their home safety measures. Many are now weighing the security features they once relied upon against the critical need for quick evacuation during emergencies.
Residents Rethink Security Measures
While some are reviewing fire safety arrangements, others are reconsidering features like metal grills and smart locks, which they now believe could hinder escape efforts in a crisis. Seema Goyal, a 50-year-old homemaker living in the same block as the fire, explained that measures once seen as essential for security now feel like significant risks. “Grills, digital locks and locked terraces are meant to keep intruders away, but could become the difference between life and death in an emergency,” she said on Monday. She added that several residents are now reconsidering whether to keep the mesh of grills at the back of their buildings.
Building Layout and EV Hazards
The lane where the fire broke out contains 14 buildings, most of them newly constructed with similar layouts of six to eight flats, while a few are bungalows. Two of the structures are older buildings with underground parking, while the rest have stilt or ground-floor parking. Several locals own electric vehicles, which pose a safety hazard in case of a blaze, as seen in the stricken building.
Rahul Arora, a 39-year-old consultant and an EV user, said the incident has left his family unsettled. “We have been looking up safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, since Sunday, but there is little awareness about the types needed for different kinds of houses. On top of that, they are expensive. So we are researching before making any decision,” he added. Arora noted that his family is considering whether to continue using smart doors, which tend to get jammed in case of blazes, and whether to keep terraces locked. “We have only a single staircase for entry and exit. Our building is similar to that one, which is what makes this incident even more frightening,” he said.
Financial Preparedness and Infrastructure Concerns
For others, the tragedy has shifted focus to financial preparedness and long-term risk. Rajni Arora, a 50-year-old businesswoman, said that the flames leapt to a part of her house but thankfully did not spread further. “We need to start thinking about insuring our property. You never know what can happen in the future,” she said. Pointing to a tangle of wires hanging in the back alley of the buildings, she described the cluttered mess as a safety hazard. “Many residents have got it fixed earlier, but it always ends up in a knot again, leaving several wires exposed,” she said. The blaze has also prompted residents to look for safe spaces in their houses to store spare gas cylinders.
Previous Tragedy Adds to Anxiety
The memory of a previous tragedy still hangs heavy over the locals. In 2024, a major fire at a neonatal facility in Vivek Vihar claimed the lives of seven newborns. Sunday’s blaze has deepened their anxieties about fire safety and preparedness in the area.
