20220610 Delhi: 9 injured in fire at Batla House building; more than 20 rescued
India Jun 10 2022 “Building” “Houses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 1 to 9
Delhi: 9 injured in fire at Batla House building; more than 20 rescued
Updated: 2022-06-10
NEW DELHI: Nine people were injured in a fire at a five-storey building in Batla House in southeast Delhi on Thursday. With fire personnel hampered by the narrow lanes in the area, some of the affected people rescued themselves using ropes and by accessing the balcony of a neighbouring house.
Around 8.48 am, a caller informed Delhi Fire Service about a blaze near Shah Masjid in Batla House. “Seven fire tenders were rushed to the site. The fire appears to have started at the electricity meter boards. More than 20 people were rescued,” said Atul Garg, director, DFS.
According to a fire officer, access to the building proved difficult due to the narrow lanes. The fire tenders had to be anchored around a kilometre from the spot. A team led by station officer Yashwant Meena walked to the house on fire. “The flames had engulfed the six electronic meters near the staircase. Four motorcycles, two scooters and one bicycle were gutted,” the officer said.
The building had a single staircase and people were trapped on all five floors. Local residents came to their rescue. They tied a rope on the third floor and helped the trapped people to the ground.
The firefighters had to use submersibles installed in houses to douse the flames. One team went to the terrace of the building via a neighbouring house. “We found that terrace was locked, but broke it down and allowed the toxic smoke to escape from the terrace,” the officer said.
There were some water tanks on the terrace, and the locals helped the firefighters throw buckets of water on the fire. Later the firemen entered the building and lowered those still inside to the ground with ropes. There was a moment of horror when a woman sliding down a rope got stuck. In panic, she fell, but the people on the ground managed to catch her. A few individuals saved themselves after accessing the balcony of another house.
The injured were identified as Sana, 27, Daniel, Shahid, 34, Asraja, 34, Saleem, 34 and Abul, 55, his wife, Shabana, and their children, Jurie, 26, and Saddam, 28. They were all sent to hospital.
Esha Pandey, DCP (Southeast) said the police crime team swept the spot to ascertain the cause of the fire. Sources said a short circuit might have triggered the blaze, but a detailed investigation was under way.
Web Source: The Times of India