NEW DELHI: Three members of a family, including a two-year-old girl, were killed early Wednesday after a fire broke out in temporary huts in Rohini’s Budh Vihar area, officials from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) said. According to police, five people managed to escape in time, while the victims were trapped inside a locked hut.
Fire officials said they received a call about the blaze around 1.25 am, following which seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot. A senior police officer said a PCR call was received at Budh Vihar police station regarding a raging fire in an empty plot near Mange Ram Park. On reaching the spot, it was found that four temporary huts used by rag-pickers had caught fire. The occupants used to collect scrap from nearby areas, the officials added.
During inquiry, police said the fire broke out around 12.45 am due to unknown reasons. The flames spread rapidly because of the highly combustible scrap material and the makeshift nature of the structures, leaving little time for occupants to react. Five persons managed to escape safely. However, three people were found dead inside a locked hut. The deceased were identified as Mosibur Dastagir (23), his wife Monara Sekh (19), and their two-year-old daughter, the officer said.
Firefighters later brought the blaze under control. Forensic and crime teams were called to inspect the spot, and efforts are underway to ascertain the exact cause of the fire. A case has been registered at Budh Vihar police station, and further investigation is in progress.
One of the neighbours said that the couple tried to save the kid by pushing her out of the room, but suddenly the roof fell. The neighbour further stated that due to frequent thefts in the area, Mosibur had locked the door. However, when the fire broke out, he was unable to locate the key. In a desperate attempt to save his family, he tried to break the lock with a knife, but before they could escape, the burning roof collapsed.
Amin Sheikh, the relative of the victims, recounted that it was around 1 am last night when they suddenly woke up and noticed that a fire had broken out in the area.
“They were unable to determine whether the fire was deliberately set by someone or if it started on its own. According to him, there are CCTV cameras installed nearby, and the footage is expected to help authorities identify the exact cause of the blaze. Three people have lost their lives in the incident. The police have collected CCTV footage from the surrounding area as part of their investigation. The victims had been living there for approximately five years,” Shiekh added.
Night Blaze
Four temporary huts gutted
Scrap material fuels spread
Five people escape safely
Incident reported around 1.25 am early Wednesday
Efforts are on to ascertain the exact cause of the fire
Forensic probe, CCTV footage under examination