A devastating fire broke out in a five-storey residential building in southeast Delhi's Govindpuri area in the early hours of Friday, claiming three lives and critically injuring two others. Among the deceased was 28-year-old Pankaj, who, after being initially rescued, made a courageous but fatal decision to re-enter the blazing structure to search for his family members.
Details of the Incident
According to police, a PCR call regarding the fire was received at the Govindpuri police station at 2:31 am. The victims were identified as Pankaj, his mother Guddi (50), and his sister Soni (20), all residents of the third floor. Pankaj's other sister Moni (18) and his maternal grandmother sustained critical injuries and are currently undergoing treatment.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with screams for help filling the air. One eyewitness told PTI, "It was the early morning hours, everything was quiet one minute and then it was filled with screams of people asking to be rescued."
Heroic Rescue Effort
Saurabh Sharma, a neighbour, recounted the harrowing rescue attempt. "In one such rescue bid, we almost saved Pankaj. As soon as the fire officials brought the fire under control, we ran into the building to search for survivors," he said. They found Pankaj in a semi-conscious state on the ground floor and rushed him out. However, Pankaj, concerned only about his family, immediately ran back into the building.
"As we were bringing him outside, all he wanted to know was about his family. Then he did the unthinkable. In a desperate attempt to find his family members, he immediately ran back into the building amid the blaze," Sharma told PTI. Locals said he almost reached the second floor but succumbed to suffocating smoke and was found unconscious by first responders. Pankaj lost his life in this heartbreakingly courageous attempt.
Selfless Acts by Neighbours
During the rescue operation, neighbours displayed remarkable selflessness. Renu Bhutani, a neighbour, said the blast sounded like an explosion. She and her son Manav rushed to help. They climbed onto an adjacent four-storey building and suspended a wooden ladder onto the top of the burning building. Using stones, they broke the pipeline system of water tanks to release water, cooling the heated terrace gate. "After finally being able to open the door, there was intense heat hitting us from within the building. To bear the heat, we poured buckets of water over ourselves, rushed in and rescued people from the other floors," she said.
Investigation and Cause
Police said preliminary inquiry suggests the fire may have originated due to an electrical short circuit on the ground floor, where at least six two-wheelers caught fire. A senior MCD official stated that the colony is an unauthorised regularised settlement and the building is also an unauthorised regularised structure. An investigation is ongoing, with multiple teams deployed to probe the matter.
Locals noted that nine families lived in the building, but many were away on vacation, which, combined with the swift response of neighbours, helped prevent a higher death toll.
