20200215 Blaze at Rohini jhuggi, none hurt but 1,000 homeless
India Feb 15 2020 “Building” “Houses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : more than 70 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Blaze at Rohini jhuggi, none hurt but 1,000 homeless
Updated: 2020–02–15
NEW DELHI: Around 1,000 people were left homeless after a major fire broke out at a JJ colony in Rohini Sector-16 on Saturday evening. Officials said that 13 fire tenders were pressed into service and no casualties were reported so far.
However, the firemen would conduct a search operation after the area cools down to see if anyone was trapped inside.
The incident took place around 7pm when fire broke out at one of the shacks of Bangali Colony and spread rapidly. Firemen said that the slums were scattered in an area of around 1,500 sq yard. The shacks were mostly made of wood and plastic due to which the fire spread rapidly. The firemen managed to control the flames within an hour and were conducting cooling operations.
Officers said that initially it was difficult for the fire tenders to reach the site since the camp was located in an area that remained crowded with e-rickshaws and three-wheelers.
Residents said they heard loud explosions as the fire spread with cooking gas cylinders in other shanties exploding. Fire officials said they had to undertake a cautious approach since most shanties had cylinders which could explode. The officials also had a tough time getting into the narrow lanes of the JJ colony. People tried to salvage their possessions and suffered burns in the process.
Residents claimed that some children who were sleeping in the shacks were missing. However, police said that no one had approached them saying that their child was missing.
The area district magistrate and senior police officers who had reached the spot ordered that a medical team and a disaster management team be present at the spot to take care of injured persons and arrangements for food and tents be made. Water tankers and toilet facilities were provided by Delhi Jal Board. A case under Section 436 of IPC (mischief by fire or explosive substance) was registered.
Web Source: The times of India