New Delhi witnessed a harrowing fire incident early Thursday morning in the Rithala area, where flames rapidly engulfed a sprawling slum cluster. What began as a spark in the makeshift shanties quickly spiraled into a raging inferno, spreading to nearby residential flats and a paper factory. The blaze, reported at 4:15 AM to the fire control room, prompted an immediate response from seven fire tenders.
Fire Officer C.L. Meena, leading the operation, upgraded the incident category due to its severity, dispatching additional 5-7 tenders by 4:35 AM. The fire devastated approximately 2,500 square yards, completely gutting numerous shanties. Flames leaped to adjacent structures, damaging windows, doors, and meter boxes in nearby apartments while severely impacting the factory.
After hours of intense efforts, firefighters brought the blaze under control. ‘The situation is now stable, but the damage is extensive,’ Meena stated. Local authorities remain on site, assessing losses and ensuring safety. No casualties have been reported yet, but the incident has left hundreds homeless in this densely populated suburb.
This tragedy echoes a similar fire in Ghaziabad’s Khoda area just a day prior, where a residential building blaze injured around 20-22 people. Authorities are investigating the Rithala fire’s cause, suspected to be electrical, amid calls for better fire safety in Delhi’s informal settlements. Relief measures are underway, with the administration promising support to affected families.