20 shops gutted in fire at Jhandewalan, none dead
HT Correspondent
NEW DELHI: At least 20 shops, offices and godowns and property worth lakhs of rupees were gutted after a fire broke out at the Jhandewalan cycle and toys market near Videocon Tower in central Delhi on Friday afternoon. Delhi Fire Services rushed 27 tenders to the market to douse the flames, officials said, adding the operation continued for over three hours.
No fatality was reported from the spot, they said, adding that they suspected that a short-circuit may have led to the fire.
Delhi Fire Services (DFS) chief Atul Garg said that at 2.05pm, the fire control room received a call regarding a fire at shop number 39A in the Jhandewalan cycle market. “We immediately rushed 27 fire tenders. Our firemen controlled the blaze by 5.30pm but continued the cooling operation until later. Nobody died o was injured in the fire. Nearly 20 shops, godowns and offices were gutted, though,” he said.
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain tweeted about the incident. “In an unfortunate incident, a fire broke out in Delhi’s Jhandewalan cycle market near Videocon Tower. 27 fire tenders were rushed to the accident spot. Our brave fire fighters have successfully controlled the situation. No casualties have been reported so far,” he wrote.
Varun Kumar, the owner of a shop close to where the fire broke out, said, “There was panic around the market as the fire was first spotted in three shops and soon spread to some godowns in the basement and also to the offices on the first floor. Although the exact value of the gutted property can be evaluated only by the owners of the gutted shops, the losses must be over ₹1 crore.”
DFS director Garg said that the congested road and parking area led to a few difficulties in carrying out the firefighting operations. The fire spread quickly because of the presence of highly combustible materials like plastic items, polythene and tyres in the shops and godowns, he added.