Delhi Fire: 3 Dead in Tughlakabad Residential Building Fire
NEW DELHI, June 12 — A devastating overnight fire swept through a five-storey residential building in Tughlakabad Extension, Southeast Delhi, claiming the lives of three members of a single family and leaving two others in critical condition. A tragic fire happened less than ten days after another one at a venue in Malviya Nagar. This raises serious concerns about fire safety in crowded areas.
The victims have been identified as Pankaj (28), his mother Guddi (50), and his sister Soni (20), all of whom lived on the third floor. Two other family members—Pankaj’s 18-year-old sister Moni and his 70-year-old maternal grandmother—suffered critical injuries and are currently receiving intensive medical treatment.
According to Hemant Tiwari, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast), the Govindpuri police station received an urgent distress call at 2:24 AM reporting a large fire on Gali No. 1 in Tughlakabad Extension. Preliminary investigations suggest that the blaze was triggered by an electrical short circuit on the ground floor. Sparks from the short circuit rapidly ignited a row of parked vehicles, including an electric scooter that was plugged into a charging outlet, leading to a series of small explosions.
As flames engulfed seven two-wheelers parked at the base of the building, thick, toxic smoke quickly rose through the central stairwell, trapping residents in their sleep. Neighbours who were alerted by screams formed desperate human chains, passing buckets of water and using sarees as makeshift rescue ropes to help occupants escape from rear windows.
The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) dispatched multiple fire tenders and a breathing support unit to the scene. However, rescue teams encountered significant logistical challenges. Assistant Divisional Officer Yashwant Singh Meena reported that the multi-storey building was located deep within a narrow lane, preventing heavy emergency vehicles from reaching the site directly.
To navigate the smoke-filled interior, firefighters climbed the exterior of the building to access the terrace. After cutting through a locked gate on the rooftop, they successfully evacuated two girls who had fled upward to escape the smoke. In total, emergency personnel rescued eight individuals who were heavily affected by smoke inhalation and transported them via CATS ambulances to Safdarjung Hospital and the AIIMS Trauma Centre.
The firefighters managed to bring the fire under control by 3:45 AM and fully extinguished the blaze by 4:00 AM. While the ground and lower floors were destroyed, a comprehensive forensic investigation is underway to determine the specific mechanical or electrical failure that ignited the deadly fire.
