New Delhi: It was the coordinated effort between Delhi Metro and Delhi Fire service which averted a major tragedy on the Magenta Line. It was 5:55 am on Friday when the Delhi Fire service received a call of a major fire at Kalindi Kunj Furniture market in South East Delhi. It sounded a normal fire call until the fire brigade realised that the fire was exactly under the Magenta Line Metro viaducts of Kalindi Kunj and Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh Metro station.
The Magenta Line connects Janakpuri West and Botanical garden. The fire and thick black smoke soon grew gigantic and burnt all combustible material kept in the furniture showrooms and stores. As the thick smoke filled the air, the fire almost reached the Magenta Line viaducts running several feet above, the Delhi Metro sensing the gravity took no time in halting its services from Kalindi Kunj metro station to Jasola Vihar Metro Station. A little casual attitude would have been disastrous as the fire was so big that it could be seen from several kilometres. DMRC roped in feeder buses for passengers in this section so that passengers could get connectivity to the rest of the line. The service at the Magenta line was restored at around 10:22 am.
"The fire was reported at 5.55 am from Kalindi Kunj, and 17 fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot. It was a big area approximately 2000 square yards, it took fire department 4 hours 20 minutes for the fire department to douse off the flames," said Atul Garg, Director, Delhi Fire Services.
"The smoke could be seen from a distance, we rushed to the spot to see all the furniture in the shops was burnt in the fire, the firemen were seen trying hard to contain the fire from spreading. The fire was so big that even after we stood at a safe distance, we could feel the heat," said Rashid, a resident of Jamia Nagar.
According to Delhi Fire service, it received 2,305 fire-related calls from June 1 to June 20. This means the DFS is acting on 115 calls per day. On Wednesday night, the DFS saved 100 people after they were stuck in a multi-storey building in Pitampura. Seven people were rescued as fire broke out in a parking lot in Abul Fazal Enclave in Jamia Nagar on Tuesday morning.