What Caused the Deadly Fire at Delhi Metro Quarters in Adarsh Nagar?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Jan 6 (NationPress) A devastating fire claimed the lives of three individuals at the Delhi Metro staff quarters situated in Adarsh Nagar during the early hours of Tuesday. The victims have been identified as Ajay (42), Neelam (38), and their 10-year-old daughter, Janhvi.
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) reported that they were alerted about the fire at approximately 02:39 a.m., which erupted on the second floor of one of the buildings belonging to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) staff quarters.
A team of firefighters was dispatched promptly to the location. Upon arrival, they conducted search and rescue operations, where they discovered the three bodies, according to officials.
During the rescue efforts, one firefighter sustained injuries.
Authorities have confirmed the fatalities and stated that an investigation into the fire's cause is currently underway.
Relief efforts are in progress, with further details pending.
This tragic event occurred just a day after another fire incident in a top-floor apartment of a five-story building in Mandawali, attributed to a gas cylinder explosion, as reported by the DFS.
Three firefighters suffered injuries during that incident and were transported to a nearby hospital, where they are now reported to be out of danger.
Officials indicated that the fire in Mandawali resulted from a short-circuit in a room heater, which rapidly spread throughout the room. The resident managed to escape and promptly contacted fire services.
Upon their arrival, a cooking gas cylinder exploded, leading to injuries among the three firefighters.
In the meantime, the DFS is grappling with a significant personnel shortage, with critical vacancies in both supervisory and frontline roles, which poses a risk to fire safety across the city, as indicated by DFS statistics.
Current data reveals that the agency employs only 18 assistant divisional officers (ADOs), while the sanctioned number stands at 24. These officers are tasked with conducting fire safety inspections and ensuring compliance at over 5,000 facilities, including restaurants, clubs, hotels, hospitals, and commercial complexes throughout the city.