Fire breaks out in PMO, none hurt

New Delhi: In separate incidents, a major fire broke out in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) early Tuesday morning. In another incident, over 200 shanties were allegedly damaged in a fire which broke out in Jamia Nagar in South Delhi. No casualty was reported.

In the first incident, a fire broke out in a room of the PMO early this morning, but no one was injured in the incident, the Delhi Fire Services said. 

A call was received about a fire in room number 242 of the PMO around 3.35 am, a Delhi Fire Services official said. Seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was doused within a matter of 20 minutes, the official said, adding no one was injured in the incident.

Four air conditioners were burnt in the fire. The cause is yet to be ascertained, he said.

In another incident, just two days before Diwali tragedy befell on scores of people living in a slum on South Delhi’s Jamia Nagar where around 80 shanties in Delhi’s Dhobi Ghat near Batla House area were gutted in fire on Tuesday noon. 

“Total eight to nine of our vehicle have arrived for fire fighting. Fire has been controlled, only cooling is left,” the fire station officer said. 

One woman and three children were injured in the incident. However, no casualties were reported yet. The fire station officer said the reason behind the fire will surface after a police investigation is done. 

Meanwhile, locals told that short circuit or cooking within someone’s home are speculated to be the reason.

While the Station Officer reported 80 shanties to have been damaged, locals claimed the number was between 150 and 200. There were also complaints that the fire brigade came after more than an hour after the fire was caught.