Fire in Bhajanpura, no deaths reported

NEWDELHI: A major fire broke out in a building in northeast Delhi’s Bhajanpura on Saturday afternoon. Though no casualties were reported, a senior Delhi Fire Service official said it took nearly three hours to douse the flames, adding that around 22 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

Spread over 500 square yard, the four-storeyed building is located in lane number 2 in C-block of the congested Bhajanpura area. “We received a call about the fire around 3.25pm. We had rushed 22 fire engines to the spot. It took us close to three hours to control the situation,” Atul Garg, chief fire officer, Delhi Fire Service, said.

Officials said according to initial reports the fire started from the bakery located on the ground floor. “There are 19 shops, including a bakery and a restaurant, on the ground floor. There are ready-made garment stores on the first and the sec- ond floor. Almost all the shops have suffered major damage as the entire building was engulfed,” the fire official said.

Deputy commissioner of police (northeast), Atul Kumar Thakur said, “A case of mischief and negligent conduct in regard to fire has been registered under sections 285, 426 and 336 of the Indian Penal Code.”

After the situation was controlled, the building was handed over to the police, however, the building has not been declared unsafe.