Two dead, 15 injured in Mangolpuri building fire

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 19

Two persons, including a seven-year-old girl, died and 15 suffered burns injuries after a major fire broke out in houses at D-Block, Balmiki Chowk, Mangolpuri in West Delhi early this morning. 

The fire broke out around 3.38 am in a three-storeyed building in Mangolpuri.

The dead were identified as Surekha (30) and Gayatri (7). The injured were identified as Harsh, Jiya, Kuldeep, Champa Devi, Bhupender, Reena, Maya, Raida, Khushi, Deendayal, Joginder, Amit, Vishal and Kishor. One of the victims is still not identified, the police said. 

The police said that the cause of fire is yet to be established. The preliminary investigation says that it could be shotcircuit. When the fire erupted, the residents were asleep. They got up because of the heat and tried to run away.

By the time they could come out, the fire had engulfed the houses at D-Block. 

Ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the firemen doused the flames by 4.30 am, the police said.

Surekha and Gayatri died because of suffocation while the injured, who include four children, were rushed to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital where they were being treated, the police said. 

Fire officials said that at least five other people have more than 60 per cent injuries and are said to be serious. 

Officials said that the the building had several families staying together and did not have a fire escape route which led to the casualties.