The area Deputy Commissioner informed him that 35 fire tenders along with 15 Ambulances were rushed to the spot immediately and no casualties were reported so far, while 8 injured had been admitted to various hospitals. Heavy smoke filled the area as the blaze spread and small cylinders kept in the jhuggis exploded. Although officials said that the reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained, locals said that the fire started after a gas cylinder exploded in one of the shanty while cooking.
‘Fire was reported at 8.30 am and fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot. As the jhuggis were made of highly combustible material, fire spread very quickly. The area was also used as a dump by its residents as many of them were rag-pickers, plastic and other garbage kept by them in an open yard in the area also fuelled the fire,’ said A K Sharma, Director of Delhi Fire Service. Fire tenders took around three hours to douse the flames.
SDMs and police officials from neighbouring districts and IAS probationers have also been pressed into service to aid the relief process, official said.