In the fire that broke out at a retail store Vishal Mega Mart in Delhi's Karol Bagh area, two fatalities have been reported so far and the bodies have been retrieved from the site. Kumar Dhirender Pratap, 25, was found dead inside a lift. He is suspected to have died of suffocation, while as another male charred body was recovered from the building later during the cooling operations. Efforts are on to identify the second body.
There were no further messages from him.The incident occurred between the second and third floors, with smoke first spotted at 6:44 PM on Friday. Six fire tenders were initially dispatched, increasing to thirteen within 1.5 hours. The SOS call was from 25-year-old Dhirendra, who was found trapped in the lift. The fire, fueled by grocery items and clothing, has been challenging to extinguish due to the presence of flammable materials like mustard oil and ghee.
Firefighters have been working for over 12 hours, focusing on cooling operations and thorough investigation. An FIR has been registered at the Karol Bagh police station, and a forensic team will conduct a comprehensive examination of the building, including exit and entry points.2 bodies retrieved from fire-struck Vishal Mega Mart in Karol Bagh.
The fire was reported at 6.44 pm from the second floor of the four-storey commercial building located on Padam Singh Road."This is a Vishal Mega Mart outlet where grocery and fabric items are sold. The fire was confined mainly to the second floor," a Delhi Police statement said. Thirteen fire tenders were deployed to douse the blaze, and around 90 firefighters were involved in the operation.Officials said the firefighting effort was prolonged due to inadequate ventilation inside the premises.
While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, preliminary indications point to a suspected short circuit, they said. An FIR has been registered at the Karol Bagh police station, and a forensic team will conduct a comprehensive examination of the building, including exit and entry points. While a case under relevant sections is likely to be registered, police said, adding that a detailed investigation is underway.
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