In an attempt to save themselves, they all jumped to death

“The fire tenders came 90 minutes after we called them,” alleged Amit, a neighbour of the residents of the building which was engulfed in a massive fire on Monday. 

Charred to death, four persons including a one-year-old girl were killed when fire broke out at a residential building in Bhagwan Das Nagar area in South-East Delhi’s Sunlight Colony on Monday night.

According to the locals who were eyewitnesses to the nightmare which unfold in front of them, Mamta, her daughters Preetika (9) and Priyanka (1), had to jump off from the balcony of their third floor rented accommodation while Mithilesh Gupta (35) had to jump off from her second floor residence. Moreover, more than 25 persons, some admitted in Safdarjung while others in AIIMS Trauma Center, sustained severe burn injuries out of which five are stated to be critical, said doctors at the AIIMS Trauma Center.

Meanwhile, senior Delhi police officers alleged that the fire happened due to short circuit which further led to multiple blasts in the three storeyed building. Failing to locate an exit, as all the four were surrounded by fire and smoke, both the women and children finally jumped to death. Since the door of the terrace door was kept closed by an old woman, all the victims were left with no other choice.

“At around 8:15 pm, the fire started at the first floor house which has been lying vacant for a long time. Scrap lying near the house caught fire due to short circuit. This further spread in the entire building,” said Sandeep, a neighbour.

“The fire was so huge that it even engulfed three bikers who were passing by. They all were going to the house where wedding celebrations were taking place,” he said.

Ten minutes before the mishap killed three members of a family, Anita, Mamta’s family friend recalls how Mamta came to meet her along with her two girls. She said: “They all were sitting with me 10 minutes before leaving for their house. Preetika and Priyanka were playing with my kids. I tried to convince them not to leave, however, Mamta was persistent on preparing the meals on time.”

Natives of West Midnapore, Mamta, her husband Tarun and her daughters had been living in Delhi for the past 10 years. Anita further added: “Tarunda works as a karigar for a jeweller (Uday Mandal) in Karol Bagh. Mandal had given them this place to live. Tarun had gone to Karol Bagh at the time of the mishap.”

Sitting in a state of shock, Amit, son of Mithilesh Gupta, one of the deceased told Millennium Post: “I had gone to the park to play when neighbours called me saying that my building is on fire. My mother was the only one present inside while my father had gone out for work. I saw my mother jump in front of my eyes in a bid to save herself from the fire.”