e-rickshaw charging sparks fire in building, 6 of family hospitalised

At least six persons, including two children, of a family were hospitalised with asphyxiation symptoms following a fire that broke out in the ground floor of their building where an e-rickshaw was being charged in Shahdara area here. The injured persons were identified as Sunny (38), Jyoti (32), Naina (30), Jyoti (22) and two girls aged six and seven years.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Prashant Gautam said they received a PCR call around 3.50 am at the Farsh Bazaar police station regarding a fire in a building. After getting information, they immediately rushed to the spot i.e. Vishvas Nagar in Shahdara.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was triggered by a short circuit.

“The family was sleeping in the room adjacent to where the e-rickshaw was being charged on the ground floor. The family members got suffocated due to heavy smoke. One of them received minor burn injuries,” the DCP said.

The police rushed them to Dr Hedgewar Hospital from where they were referred to GTB Hospital. “While Sunny received 5-10% burn injuries, others had no external injury. The condition of two women both named Jyoti is stated to be critical due to excessive inhalation of smoke,” the officer said. The police have registered a case.