Ghaziabad apartment fire kills three pet dogs, family of four rescued
Synopsis
A late-night fire at a Ghaziabad apartment building trapped a family of four on a smoke-filled balcony and killed their three pet dogs before rescuers could reach them. Fire personnel broke down the main door to enter the flat; a probable short circuit is being investigated as the cause.
Key Takeaways
A fire broke out at 3:09 am on Tuesday, 2 June at SK Homes, Avantika Colony Phase-2, Ghaziabad .
A family of four — Pawan Sharma (52) , his wife, son, and daughter — were trapped on a smoke-filled balcony and rescued via extension ladder.
Three pet dogs perished due to asphyxiation from excessive smoke.
Two fire tenders from Kotwali Ghantaghar Fire Station , roughly 8 km away, reached the scene by 3:20 am .
Preliminary findings point to a short circuit in the drawing room or near the main entrance as the probable cause.
No injuries reported among other residents; no damage to other flats in the building.
A massive fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday, 2 June at SK Homes, a four-storey residential building in Avantika Colony, Phase-2, Ghaziabad, trapping a family of four inside their flat and killing three pet dogs. The fire service evacuated all four family members safely, but the animals perished due to asphyxiation before personnel could reach them.
How the Fire Unfolded
The Kotwali Fire Station received an emergency alert at 3:09 am reporting a blaze in a flat at Avantika Colony with multiple persons trapped inside. Two fire tenders were immediately dispatched from Kotwali Ghantaghar Fire Station, located approximately 8 kilometres from the site. While en route, fire personnel established phone contact with the trapped residents, instructing them to move to the balcony and await rescue.
The team arrived at the scene at around 3:20 am. The fire was concentrated in Flat No. 202 on the third floor, where the blaze had engulfed the drawing room, kitchen, storeroom, and one bedroom. The flat's main door had to be broken down to allow firefighters entry, indicating the intensity of the fire inside.
Family Rescued from Smoke-Filled Balcony
The four trapped residents — Pawan Sharma (52), his wife (46), their 20-year-old son, and their 18-year-old daughter — were found standing on the smoke-engulfed balcony awaiting help. Under the direction of the Chief Fire Officer, who had been immediately briefed on the incident, fire personnel deployed an extension ladder and brought all four individuals down safely. Hose lines were laid from both sides of the building to combat the blaze.
Three Pet Dogs Die of Asphyxiation
Once the fire was extinguished and the flat was fully searched, it was found that the family's three pet dogs had died due to excessive smoke inhalation. No injuries were reported among human residents, and no damage was caused to other flats in the building.
Probable Cause and Ongoing Investigation
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire was likely triggered by a short circuit in the drawing room or near the main entrance of the flat, according to officials. Local police were present at the scene during the firefighting and rescue operations. Investigations are currently underway to determine the precise cause of the blaze.
The incident underscores the risk posed by electrical faults in high-density residential buildings, particularly during late-night hours when residents are asleep and response time is critical.
Point of View
Often striking in the dead of night when reaction time is slowest. The fire service response — from alert to on-site in under 12 minutes across 8 kilometres — was notably swift, and the phone-contact protocol that guided the family to the balcony likely saved lives. What the investigation must now establish is whether the building's electrical wiring met regulatory standards, and whether mandatory fire-safety audits for multi-storey residential buildings in Ghaziabad are being enforced. Without accountability at that level, individual rescues remain heroic exceptions to a structural failure.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Ghaziabad apartment fire break out?
The fire broke out in Flat No. 202 of SK Homes, a four-storey residential building in Avantika Colony, Phase-2, Ghaziabad, in the early hours of Tuesday, 2 June. The blaze spread across the drawing room, kitchen, storeroom, and one bedroom of the flat.
Were there any casualties or injuries in the Ghaziabad fire?
No human casualties or injuries were reported. However, three pet dogs belonging to the trapped family died due to asphyxiation from excessive smoke. All four family members were safely evacuated by fire personnel.
What caused the fire at SK Homes in Ghaziabad?
Preliminary investigations suggest a short circuit in the drawing room or near the main entrance of the flat was the likely cause. A formal investigation is currently underway to confirm the exact origin.
How did the fire service rescue the trapped family?
Fire personnel established phone contact with the family while en route and instructed them to move to the balcony. On arrival at 3:20 am, they deployed an extension ladder under the direction of the Chief Fire Officer and brought all four residents down safely before breaking down the main door to fight the fire.
Did the fire spread to other flats in the building?
No. The fire was contained to Flat No. 202 on the third floor. No damage was reported to other flats or residents in the building.
