A massive fire broke out at a furniture market in Delhi's Shastri Park late Friday night, prompting an angry reaction from locals who allegedly pelted stones at fire tenders after an initially limited response. The Delhi Fire Service received a call about the blaze at 11:57 PM, and initial firefighting teams were dispatched to the scene. However, residents grew agitated upon seeing only two firefighting vehicles in the early stages, as the flames spread rapidly through the highly flammable wooden furniture and plywood stored in the area.
Stone Pelting Incident
According to news agency ANI, some locals began pelting stones at fire tenders and emergency personnel amid fears that the blaze would engulf more shops in the densely packed market. The situation escalated quickly, with authorities later deploying around 25 to 30 fire tenders to bring the fire under control. Deputy Chief Fire Officer DB Mukherjee confirmed that no casualties were reported and that the fire was eventually categorised as a major incident due to the scale and combustible nature of the market.
Challenges in Firefighting Operations
Officials noted that the narrow lanes and dense commercial setup of the Shastri Park furniture market made firefighting operations difficult. The flames spread across a large section of the area, complicating efforts to contain the blaze. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and authorities have stated that Delhi Police will investigate the incident. A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory also visited the spot to assess the damage and examine the site.
Response and Investigation
Deputy Chief Fire Officer DB Mukherjee explained the sequence of events: 'The Fire Control Room received information at 11:57 PM. Initially, a standard response was dispatched, but given the presence of highly flammable material such as wooden furniture and plywood, the incident was upgraded. Around 25 to 30 fire tenders were eventually deployed, and the fire is now under control.' The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, with forensic experts collecting evidence from the scene.
