A horrific blaze in Southwest Delhi has claimed the lives of seven people this morning, with several others left fighting for their lives in hospital. The fire ravaged the multi-story residential complex in Shri Ram Chowk, which, as the name suggests, is perilously close to the Palam Metro station.
The initial alarm was raised at around 7:00 am. The Delhi Fire Services deployed almost 30 fire tenders to the narrow Gali Number 2, where the challenge before the firemen was to fight through the thick smoke to access the people stranded on the higher floors of the building. Even though the fire has been brought under control, the extent of the damage was realised as the rescue operations entered the final stages of clearing the charred remains of the building.
Amit Goel, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest), confirmed that a dozen people were initially trapped as the flames spread. Local police worked alongside fire crews to pull residents from the building, but the intensity of the heat and smoke proved fatal for seven victims. Forensic experts and electrical inspectors are also expected to arrive at the location shortly to ascertain the exact reason behind the blaze, with initial indications suggesting that it could be the result of a possible short circuit in the electrical wiring of the building.
The recent calamity has created shockwaves in the Palam region, as the incident has occurred at a time when the city's emergency services are already overstretched. As the cooling-down process continues, the area has already been cordoned off, and the investigation into whether the residential complex adhered to the required safety standards against fires has begun.
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