A massive fire broke out in a four-storey shopping complex in Old Seelampur, East Delhi, on Sunday evening. The incident started after a scooty battery exploded while charging inside a cloth shop on the ground floor. The fire department deployed around 25 to 30 fire tenders to control the blaze, which took nearly four and a half hours to douse completely.
How did the massive fire start?
The fire began between 4:00 PM and 4:22 PM in the Shanti Mohalla area, which falls under the Krishna Nagar police station limits. According to initial reports, a scooty was plugged in for charging in a shop on the ground floor. The battery of the vehicle exploded with a loud noise, triggering the fire. Within minutes, the flames spread to the upper floors of the 400-square-yard complex.
The building was packed with hosiery items and ready-made garments, which acted as fuel for the fire. Thick black smoke engulfed the entire neighborhood, reducing visibility and causing breathing difficulties for local residents. Many people living nearby had to vacate their homes due to the intense heat and smoke to stay safe.
What was the impact and police action?
Fire officials confirmed that about 15 shops located on the ground floor were destroyed. The upper floors, used for stocking goods, also suffered heavy damage. Since it was a Sunday, most shops in the market were closed, which prevented a major tragedy. No deaths were reported, though one person sustained minor burn injuries during the incident.
The firefighting operation faced significant challenges due to narrow lanes and encroachment in the market. The first fire tender took 25 minutes to reach the spot because of blocked roads. Cooling operations continued late into the night to ensure the fire did not reignite. The Krishna Nagar police have registered a case and are investigating the matter further.
