Six of family injured, one dead in fire Maujpur

NEW DELHI: A man was charred to death, while six members of his family suffered serious burn injuries after a major fire broke out on Friday morning in east Delhi's Maujpur area.

Police said the fire broke out in three shops in a building in Maujpur around 5.45 am, when the victims were asleep.

The deceased man was identified as 43-year-old Harish, while the family members who sustained injuries included his mother Amrit Devi (65), Sunil (47), Gyanshyam (28), Neha (18), Abhishek (12) and six year-old Anant.

Police said that the condition of three of the hospitalised persons is critical.

"Harish's neighbour informed Delhi Fire Services, after which three fire tenders rushed to the spot and doused the blaze at 6.50 am," said an official of the fire department.

"Prima facie, an electrical short circuit in a mobile phone shop in the building caused the fire," he added.

Two shops dealing in cosmetics and motor spare parts were also damaged.

"Hearing his mother's cries for help, Harish rushed downstairs. While rescuing her, he received over 80 per cent burn injuries and died on the spot," the officer said.

Firefighters and police personnel faced difficulty in dousing the fire and rescuing the injured, due to the narrow approach pathway to the building, he added. The injured have been admitted to hospital and are undergoing treatment.