3 killed, 2 critical as fire engulfs residential building in southeast Delhi

Three members of a family were killed and two others critically injured after a fire broke out in a residential building in southeast Delhi’s Tughlakabad Extension in the early hours of Friday, police said.

The deceased have been identified as Pankaj (28), his mother Guddi (50), and sister Soni (20). Two other family members remain critical and are undergoing treatment. They have been identified as Pankaj’s 18-year-old sister Moni and his 70-year-old maternal grandmother.

According to police, a PCR call regarding the blaze was received at Govindpuri police station at around 2:31 am. The fire had erupted in a ground-plus-five-storey residential building located in a narrow lane of Tughlakabad Extension.

Local police personnel rushed to the spot immediately. Firefighters, along with four fire tenders and CATS ambulances, also reached the scene to assist in the rescue efforts.

Firefighters rescued eight people from the structure, including two girls stranded on the terrace. The rescue team had to break open the terrace gate to evacuate them safely.

Officials said the fire originated in the ground-floor parking area, where three scooters, two motorcycles and a bicycle caught fire. The flames and thick smoke rapidly spread through the building, affecting all floors.

According to DFS officials, the ground, first and second floors suffered extensive damage, while the upper floors were partially affected.

Preliminary inquiry suggests that the fire may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit. An electric scooter that was reportedly being charged at the time was among the vehicles that caught fire.

However, police said the exact cause of the fire would be established only after a detailed investigation.

The incident has once again raised concerns over fire safety in the Capital, particularly in densely populated residential colonies with narrow access lanes.

Despite repeated claims by government and civic authorities regarding improved safety measures, incidents like these expose risks posed by narrow streets, unauthorised alterations, inadequate fire access and densely constructed buildings.

For firefighters, every minute becomes critical in such structures. A narrow approach road can delay rescue operations, while smoke travelling through staircases and common passages can turn a small parking fire into a life-threatening disaster within minutes.

The Tughlakabad fire is now likely to put the spotlight back on Delhi’s fire safety regulations, building approval mechanisms and the ongoing campaign to demolish illegal structures in the city.