Minor fire breaks out in Connaught Place area

It took five fire tenders to douse a fire which originated at a shop in New Delhi’s Connaught Place area on Tuesday evening. There were no casualties reported in the incident, said a fire official.

The fire reportedly broke out at the premises of a food supplying unit in the F-block of Connaught Place around 5.45 pm and five fire tenders were rushed to the spot immediately. It was doused by 6.20 pm, after which a cooling operation was launched, added the official. However, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. 

People in and around the concerned shop evacuated the premises immediately when they saw smoke billowing from one of the windows and called up the fire department. In no time, flames were visible from the road and a large crowd gathered near the spot. The local police later cordoned off the area to make work easier for the fire officials, said a cop.

In August 2014, a massive fire was reported at the Hamilton House in the A-block of Connaught Place, which is adjacent to the spot from where Tuesday’s fire was reported. Both the blocks are separated by two Radial Roads and the Palika Market. In the August incident, shop-owners in the area alleged that the mysterious fire was caused by power overload, faulty wiring and negligence on part of some big-shot showrooms and outlets operating in the area. 

It took 15 fire trucks and more than seven hours to douse the massive fire that originated from an NIIT training centre on the first floor of Hamilton House. There were no casualties reported but the cause of the fire has not reportedly been established till date.

In November 2012, another massive fire was reported at Himalaya House in outer peripheries of Connaught Place. It took around three hours to douse it despite a deployment of around 30 fire tenders.