Home / Disasters and Accidents / Delhi Fire: 300 Shops Gutted, Locals Clash With Firefighters
Delhi Fire: 300 Shops Gutted, Locals Clash With Firefighters
24 May
Summary
- A massive fire destroyed approximately 300 shops in a Delhi furniture market.
- Locals reportedly threw stones at fire tenders, alleging a delayed response.
- Highly flammable materials and locked access points complicated firefighting efforts.
A significant fire erupted late Friday night at the New Seelampur furniture market in Shastri Park, northeast Delhi, engulfing approximately 300 tin-shed shops. The fire service received the initial call at 11:57 PM and began dispatching units, with the blaze escalating rapidly due to the presence of highly flammable materials like wood and foam.
Firefighting operations were severely hampered by locked boundary fences, blocked entry routes, and strong winds that fanned the flames. The intense heat caused tin sheds to melt and collapse, complicating efforts to extinguish the fire. Some locals reportedly became hostile, allegedly pelting stones at fire tenders and damaging one vehicle's windscreen.
While fire officials stated that the first tenders arrived on time, congestion caused by gathered crowds later hindered navigation. In total, 25 fire units were deployed to control the situation. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported from the market fire.
In a separate incident on Saturday, police personnel bravely rescued a family of three, including a child, from a burning house in East Delhi's Ajeet Nagar, which was suspected to be caused by a gas cylinder leak. A case has been registered concerning the market fire under relevant sections of the BNS.
