NEW DELHI: A massive fire broke out near the Matiala fish market in Delhi, engulfing hundreds of slums and triggering panic among residents. The blaze destroyed nearly 300 to 400 slums, leaving several families homeless and prompting urgent calls for assistance from the government.
According to officials, the fire broke out around 11.53 p.m. on Wednesday and quickly spread through the densely populated slum area. The Delhi Fire Service received the emergency call around 11.50 p.m., after which multiple fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the flames.
A total of 24 fire tenders, along with senior fire officials, were deployed to tackle the blaze, which was classified as a medium-category fire. Firefighters battled the flames for several hours and managed to bring the situation under control by around 4.00 a.m. Cooling operations were later carried out to prevent the fire from reigniting and to ensure the safety of nearby residents.
Officials from the Delhi Fire Service said the fire destroyed between 300 and 400 slum dwellings. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported so far. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.