Delhi slum fire near Udyog Bhawan brought under control; no casualties reported

NEW DELHI: A fire broke out in labour slums near Udyog Bhawan in Delhi on early Wednesday after an electric panel caught fire, with the flames spreading to nearby temporary structures, officials told ANI.According to the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), around 20 fire tenders were rushed to the spot to contain the blaze. Firefighters managed to surround the fire by 5:10 am, and an “under control” message was issued at 5:30 am.Officials said the fire started in an electric panel before spreading to temporary labour rooms in the area.No casualties or injuries have been reported so far, officials added.Further details on the extent of the damage are awaited.The incident comes days after a massive fire engulfed a cluster of slums behind Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi’s Balmiki Basti area of Takia Kale Khan late on Monday night.According to the Delhi Fire Service, information about the fire was received at around 11.22 pm, following which firefighting teams were immediately dispatched to the site.Initially, seven to eight fire tenders were deployed. As the intensity of the blaze increased, additional units were pressed into service, taking the total number of fire tenders at the site to 24.Speaking to news agency ANI, Mukesh Verma, Divisional Officer (DO), Delhi Fire Service, said the fire has been completely brought under control.“At around 11.22 PM, our fire control room received information about a fire in some slums behind Maulana Azad Medical College. Seven to eight vehicles were immediately dispatched. However, as the intensity of the fire increased, the number of vehicles increased and currently, 24 vehicles are present at the scene. The fire has been completely brought under control,” Verma said.“Based on preliminary information, we have no information about any casualties,” he added.Verma said the affected area comprised both residential slums and storage facilities.“This area included some residential slums, some storage facilities, and we saw plywood storage. The presence of a large amount of wooden material and temporary structures caused the fire to spread quickly,” Verma said.