Fire breaks out at residence in Lajpat Nagar, fireman injured

NEW DELHI: A fire reported early Wednesday morning in the busy Lajpat Nagar market of central Delhi left a fire department officer injured, who is receiving treatment at Safdarjung Hospital.

As soon as locals saw the fire break out at the fourth floor of the residential building, the fire brigade was informed.

"The residents of the building immediately rushed to safety and came down, as soon as they saw fire. No one from the family were injured in the incident," said a senior police officer.

Soon, local police from Lajpat Nagar police station and Delhi Fire Services reached the spot. It took six fire tenders to control the fire, which was brought under control around 9.50 am.

However, as the fire officers were trying to douse the flame, a cylinder exploded inside the building, which caused burn injuries to one fireman.

A DFS official said, "A fire officer got injured as a cylinder exploded while he was on duty there. He suffered burn injuries to his face and hands from the blaze."

The fire was reported at around 8.55 am, and it was extinguished within an hour, after which fire department officials started cooling process.

The cause of the fire is still unknown and fire department are conducting their investigation.

"The fire officer who sustained injuries is being treated at Safdarjung Hospital, where his condition is said to be out of danger," said a police officer.