Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Harsh Malhotra on Sunday, 14 June praised the city's fire brigade personnel for rescuing a 75-year-old woman trapped on the second floor of a burning building in Kalkaji, while urging Delhi residents to stay vigilant amid a rising trend of fire incidents across the capital. Malhotra also appealed to citizens to inspect electrical wiring and service appliances as summer heat drives up electrical load.

The Kalkaji Fire Incident

A fire broke out early Sunday morning in a building in Kalkaji, spreading to an adjacent structure and triggering explosions from gas cylinders. The timely arrival of the Delhi Fire Brigade — coordinated alongside MCD Central Zone Chairperson Yogita Singh — helped avert what could have been a far larger tragedy. Firefighters successfully evacuated the elderly woman from the second floor under hazardous conditions.

Malhotra said, 'I extend my appreciation on behalf of all Delhi residents to the Fire Brigade personnel who safely rescued a 75-year-old woman trapped on the second floor amid a massive fire and exploding gas cylinders in Kalkaji.'

Political Barb at Kalkaji MLA

While stopping short of making the incident a full political flashpoint, Malhotra took aim at Kalkaji MLA Atishi Marlena, noting she had not visited the accident site in her own constituency even hours after the blaze. He contrasted this with her public appearance outside Max Hospital following the Hauz Rani accident just five days earlier, calling her response 'crocodile tears.' He said, 'We do not want to politicise a serious issue like a fire incident, but it is unfortunate that the Kalkaji MLA did not reach the accident site in her own constituency even after several hours.'

Fire Safety Advisory for Delhi Residents

Malhotra attributed the surge in fire incidents to rising temperatures placing excessive load on ageing electrical infrastructure — coolers, air conditioners, microwaves, and car battery charging points among the key risk sources. He urged Delhi households, offices, shops, and restaurants to get electrical wiring inspected, schedule regular AC servicing, and switch off non-essential electrical points before sleeping or leaving premises.

Backdrop: Hauz Rani Fire and Government Response

Malhotra's statement follows a string of fire-related tragedies in the capital. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta recently paid tributes to victims of the devastating fire at Hauz Rani in Malviya Nagar and a building collapse in Saidulajab, Saket, announcing an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh to the family of each victim. Courageous citizens, police personnel, and rescue workers were honoured with commendation certificates and cheques of ₹21,000 each. This comes amid a broader pattern of fire emergencies in Delhi that have tested emergency response capacity through the summer months.

With temperatures continuing to climb, authorities and civic bodies face mounting pressure to enforce electrical safety norms in older residential and commercial buildings across the city.