New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal visited the family impacted by the tragic fire in Delhi's Palam area on Thursday, suggesting that the fire department's oversights may have played a role in the fatalities. He also accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members of causing disturbances during his visit.

The fire erupted in a multi-storey building at Ram Market in Palam on Wednesday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least nine individuals and injuring several others.

Kejriwal, who arrived at the scene directly from the airport after a trip to Goa, described the occurrence as deeply tragic and asserted that timely action could have prevented the catastrophe.

“I just returned from Goa today and came straight here. The incident is incredibly tragic, and I learned that it was due to the fire brigade’s error—had they responded promptly, lives could have been preserved,” stated the AAP leader.

He further claimed that BJP workers disrupted his attempt to offer condolences to the grieving family.

“This family has lost nine members—rather than extending sympathy, these (BJP) individuals resorted to hooliganism. It saddens me greatly that BJP leaders can sink to such a low level that they obstruct someone from paying their respects,” Kejriwal expressed.

The AAP leader is also calling for a comprehensive investigation into the event.

“I demand that a full inquiry be conducted. How did the fire initiate? Why was the fire brigade’s equipment malfunctioning?” he questioned.

Kejriwal arrived in Palam to a large crowd of AAP supporters who welcomed him with slogans.

Delhi AAP President Saurabh Bharadwaj also held the fire department accountable for the deaths and claimed that attempts were made to shift the blame.

“The loss of life is due to the fire department’s negligence. Yesterday, they informed the media that all equipment was operational and that no one was to blame, citing the narrowness of the road,” Bharadwaj stated.

He accused political adversaries of exploiting the tragedy for their gain.

“These individuals are merely engaging in politics. What are they grieving for? When you can't recognize the failures of your own department, what can you even point out? You are concealing everything. So why are you here to display sorrow?” he questioned.

Bhardwaj further alleged misconduct on the part of the local police.

“The police are acting with complete hooliganism. The local police aim to demolish the area entirely. The local Station House Officer is implicated,” he asserted.

As tensions escalated in the area, a confrontation broke out between BJP and AAP leaders during the visit, involving Bharadwaj and supporters from both factions.

In response to the accusations, BJP MLA Kuldeep Solanki stated that the party supports the affected family but accused AAP leaders of politicizing the tragedy.

“We (BJP) stand with the affected family and will extend all possible assistance, but even amidst such issues, he (Saurabh Bharadwaj) is engaging in political maneuvers,” Solanki remarked, indicating his intention to file a police complaint against Bharadwaj.

According to reports, the fire started in a four-storey building where the basement, ground floor, and first floor housed a cloth and cosmetic shop, while the upper floors were occupied by the owner's family.

Police and fire department personnel rushed to the scene after receiving word of the fire at around 7:04 a.m.

Rescue teams successfully evacuated numerous individuals from the building and transported the injured to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

The BJP-led Delhi government has mandated a magisterial inquiry to uncover the fire's cause and the factors leading to the casualties.