Another firefighter dies in cylinder blast
TRAGIC Two other firefighters lost their lives in March trying to douse a blaze
Just about three months after two firemen were killed in a bid to douse a blaze in West Delhi’s Vikaspuri area, a 52-year-old firefighter was killed in central Delhi’s Anand Parbat industrial area on Wednesday.
Delhi fire departments officials said that Bijender was killed after a gas cylinder exploded while the firemen were trying to douse the blaze in the factory where electrical heaters, used in industries, are manufactured. Four others, including two of Bijender’s colleagues and two civilians, were injured
The fire broke out around 9.30 pm on Wednesday in the office of the factory owner on the first floor. The gas cylinder exploded around 12.45 am on the second floor after the firemen managed to control the blaze and were busy in the cooling process.
A heated tin shed on the second floor collapsed reportedly due to the blast along with a portion of the roof in the rear side of the building. Eyewitnesses said that three firemen and two civilians, who were on the second floor at the time of the blast, were stuck under the debris. They were rescued by other firefighters and rushed to Jeevan Mala Hospital from where they were referred to Sir Ganga Ram hospital.
Atul Garg, chief fire officer of Delhi Fire Services (DFS), said that one of the injured firefighters, Bijender succumbed to his injuries during treatment around noon on Thursday.
Pal is survived by his wife and three sons, who are constables in the Delhi Police. The family lives in north Delhi’s Burari. The other injured firemen were identified as station officer Avtar Singh and fireman Sunil Kumar. The two locals who were injured in the blaze were identified as Dhananjay Kumar Chaubey and Pandit.
Rescue operation was reportedly delayed due to two trucks parked in the narrow lane.
The chief fire officer said that three fire tenders from Prasad Nagar fire station reached the area by 10.20 pm but were stuck some 50 metre away from the affected building in the congested lane because of two trucks that were parked in the lane.
In March, two firemen were killed and two others injured when an LPG cylinder exploded during the firefighting operations at a restaurant in west Delhi’s Vikaspuri. A fire starts on the first floor of a three-storeyed industrial electrical heater manufacturing factory at Gali number 8 in central Delhi’s Anand Parbat industrial area.
Two workers see smoke billowing out of one of the windows on the first floor. They alert some workers and security guards. Police is informed. The blaze is controlled.
About 20 firemen and two civilians are inspecting the building while the cooling process is on. Bijender too is on the second floor for inspection and a gas cylinder bursts. A portion of the roof and wall collapses. Pal is stuck under the debris and suffers severe injuries. Two other firemen and two civilians are also injured. They are rushed to Jeevan Mala Hospital from where they are shifted to Sir Ganga Ram hospital. Atul Garg, DFS, says
Bijender succumbed to his injuries during treatment around noon on Thursday. Bijender succumbs to his injuries during treatment.