Major fire guts 500 huts in DLF-I area, no casualties

A major fire broke out in a forested area of Aravallis, close to DLF phase 1, in which around 500 huts burnt down on Friday.

Sources said there were no causalities in the incident, but some slum dwellers lost everything in Friday’s blaze.

The fire, that spread across two acres of area, burnt down a large number of shrubs, bushes and huts belonging to illegal slums in the area. Seven fire tenders were sent at the location to control the blaze that was reported around 6:15 pm.

Sources said despite best efforts by some locals, the massive blaze reduced an entire JJ cluster to ashes. The incident was reported from an area close to Pullman Hotel in DLF Phase 1 near Sikanderpur green area which was supposed to be transferred to forest department for creation of city forest.

According to officials of the fire department, locals initially dumped dried leaves on the fire which aggravated the blaze. “We sent seven fire tenders at the location to control the fire. More than 15 firemen worked to control the blaze,” said chief fire officer IS Kashyap. The reason of the fire was immediately not known.

“We saw smoke coming out of the forest area and informed the fire department,” said Suresh Kumar from DLF Phase1.

The area comes under Section 4 of PLPA act where non-forest activity without permission is prohibited.