New Delhi, March 12 (NationPress) A significant fire erupted near the Matiala fish market in Delhi, ravaging hundreds of slum dwellings and instigating widespread panic among residents. The inferno obliterated approximately 300 to 400 slums, rendering numerous families without homes and igniting urgent appeals for government aid.

Officials reported that the fire ignited around 11:53 p.m. on Wednesday, rapidly spreading through the densely populated slum area. The Delhi Fire Service received the emergency alert around 11:50 p.m., prompting the dispatch of multiple fire tenders to manage the flames.

A total of 24 fire tenders, accompanied by senior fire officials, were deployed to combat the blaze, classified as a medium-category fire. Firefighters struggled against the flames for several hours but successfully controlled the situation by around 4:00 a.m. Following this, cooling operations were conducted to avert any possibility of re-ignition and to ensure the safety of surrounding residents.

According to the Delhi Fire Service, the fire devastated between 300 and 400 slum homes. Thankfully, there have been no reported casualties or injuries to date. An investigation has been initiated to ascertain the precise cause of the fire.

In the aftermath, residents were seen rummaging through the wreckage in a desperate attempt to recover any belongings they could find. Many families expressed that they had lost everything, including essential household items, important documents, and food supplies.

Some locals have alleged that the fire might have been intentionally set, although these claims are yet to be verified by authorities. Residents mentioned having faced previous pressures to vacate the area.

Several individuals living in the settlement also claimed that money had been forcibly collected from them under the pretense of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). They further accused that a similar fire had occurred in the vicinity just days prior, which they also suspect was deliberate.

One resident recounted, “The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m., yet the fire brigade arrived nearly an hour later. We believe someone set the fire intentionally. Just a few days ago, another fire broke out nearby.”

Another resident voiced despair over their loss, stating, “Where will we go from here? We have lost everything. No one has even given us water. Everything has been consumed by the fire. We are unsure how we will feed our children.”

A third resident remarked on the difficulty of controlling the situation despite the fire brigade’s intervention. “Only the fire brigade arrived to handle the situation, but the destruction was already extensive. We’ve lived here for over 15 years. Now, we have nothing left.”

Another affected individual said, “I was not present during the blaze, but upon my return, everything was reduced to ashes. We urge the government to provide food and assistance, as we have lost everything.”