1 killed, 25 rescued as E Delhi building engulfed in flames

A 55-year-old woman was killed, 13 people were injured, and 17 people along with two pet dogs were rescued after a massive fire broke out in a five-storey residential building in east Delhi's Shakarpur early Tuesday morning. A family of four - including two children aged 4 and 12 years-jumped off the balcony of their second floor home in a bid to save their lives, and suffered serious burn injuries as well as fractures.

- Karn Pratap Singh

The two children, Shaurya and Shivay Tiwari, were wrapped in thick blankets and pillows and then thrown from their second floor home by their parents, their relative told HT. He added that the children are currently in a critical condition and admitted in the ICU at a private hospital in east Delhi.

Meanwhile, the deceased has been identified as Anita Singh, a resident on the fourth floor. As per police, Singh, who had burn marks, probably died of asphyxiation. Her nephew, Piyush Thakur, and sister-in-law Beena Singh were found unconscious inside the house, and were rescued by firemen.

"On initial inquiry, it appeared that the fire in Shakarpur's Ganesh Nagar-II broke out due to a short-circuit in the parking area and soon engulfed the first floor. The residents of the above floors sustained injuries due to excessive heat and smoke. The report of the fire department about the exact cause is awaited," said deputy commissioner of police (east) Amrutha Guguloth.

Delhi Fire Services (DFS) chief Atul Garg said that the control room received a call at 1.03 am on Tuesday, after which three fire tenders were dispatched, followed by five more. "At least 25 people were rescued by firemen, and the team only left at 7am after the cooling down operation was done," said Garg.